Day: January 11, 2023

KUCHING, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The promotion of green energy will be the main thrust of the Sarawak government’s agenda in the effort to further preserve and protect the world’s ozone layer.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the world’s surface is getting hotter and humans must find ways to cool down the atmosphere.

He said one way to improve the situation is by exploring the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source for energy.

“Water can have a cooling effect and in water there’s hydrogen and oxygen…and hydrogen is a new form of energy.

“Sarawak has enormous sources of water, we have huge dams like the Bakun Dam, rivers and rainfall which could promote the use of hydrogen (as alternative energy),” he said.

Abang Johari said this in his speech at the 7th Convocation of Centre For Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS) here, today.

A total of 1,241 graduates receive their competency-based certificates during the convocation ceremony.

Yesterday, the media reported that the Earth’s ozone layer is on its way to recovering as discovered by a panel of international experts backed by the United Nations (UN).

The ozone layer serves as a shield to protect the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The new formula of appointing Pakatan Harapan (PH) assemblymen to the Sabah Cabinet has been seen as capable of intensifying efforts to further develop the state.

Newly-appointed Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmy Yahya said it was hoped that the assemblymen from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Barisan Nasional (BN) and PH in the Cabinet would be able to work more efficiently in formulating and implementing the best policies for the people.

“The political turmoil has passed. So, this is the time for Sabah Cabinet to work on this new formula and work for the people,” he told reporters after the swearing-in of the three assemblymen appointed to the Sabah Cabinet at Istana Seri Kinabalu here today.

When asked whether UMNO and BN would take action against him for accepting the post, Shahelmy said he would leave it to the party to decide, while stressing that he is still an UMNO member.

Earlier, Sabah UMNO chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin claimed that two assemblymen from the party who were appointed to the State Cabinet today do not represent Sabah UMNO.

In fact, Bung Moktar said the matter would be brought to the party’s Disciplinary Board as the duo was deemed to have turned their back on UMNO and Sabah BN’s decision.

Hajiji announced a reshuffle of the Sabah Cabinet which involved seven assemblymen and two each from BN and PH.

The Cabinet reshuffle saw Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan appointed as Deputy Chief Minister I to replace Bung Moktar, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam as Deputy Chief Minister II and Shahelmy as Deputy Chief Minister III.

Shahelmy was also appointed as State Works Minister, the portfolio previously held by Bung Moktar.

Also sworn in as Sabah Cabinet members today were Sabah PH chairman cum Api-Api assemblyman Datuk Christina Liew, Phoong Jin Zhe (Luyang) of DAP and James Ratib (Sugut) of BN.

Meanwhile, Liew who was appointed as Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said a meeting would be held with the assistant minister and the management of the ministry and agencies involved to strengthen the state’s tourism sector.

“We (Sabah) recorded 4.3 million tourist and more than half from China, but after the change of government in 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, the market had gone very quiet. We will try our best to boost our tourism sector in 2023…we hope this year will be a good year for Sabah,” she said.

Phoong who was appointed as Sabah Industrial Development Minister said he would double his efforts, time and responsibilities to help the people and together develop the state to be more sustainable.

“I know this is a very heavy responsibility and the government has less than three years before the term ends, which means I have to make the most of this appointment, there is no honeymoon time for me, especially before the Chinese New Year, I have to cancel many (CNY) receptions because it is time to go back to work,” he said.

James, who now holds the portfolio as Minister of Community Development and People’s Wellbeing, said he would use his experience as the Assistant Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries for more than two years to develop the state, especially in hardcore poor areas.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LANGKAWI, Jan 11 (Bernama) — Kedah police need additional K9 (Dog Detection Unit) tracker dogs in Langkawi to further strengthen guarding and controlling gateways to the island in efforts to prevent criminal activities.

Its criminal investigation department (JSJ) head, Datuk G Suresh Kumar said that currently four tracker dogs are stationed at Langkawi’s K9 Section.

“We have 10 cages at Langkawi’s K9 Section, but only four tracker dogs. One of the dogs is assigned to detect explosives, another to drug-related cases and the other two to investigate other criminal cases involving the JSJ.

“Therefore, the leadership views having additional K9 dogs here, with the recommended addition to help in the detecting explosives and drugs,” he told reporters when met at the Langkawi K9 Section today, adding that their effectiveness will be very limited if only one tracker dog is handling the task.

“The K9 (unit) in Langkawi has been seen to be very effective since its establishment in April 2022 as many drug cases have been successfully solved. So, the addition is also necessary because if there is a case, it is quite difficult to get help from the mainland due to logistical problems,” he said.

He also said that there are 11 K9 dogs in Kedah stationed in Langkawi, Kuala Muda and Bukit Kayu Hitam.

Earlier, Suresh presented a medal of appreciation to the K9 dog ‘Black’ for helping to solve two drug cases last year and also a certificate of appreciation for Black’s handler, Lance Corporal Johan Anak Jame.

Three other K9 dog handlers, namely Sergeant S. Pubalan, Corporal Suriya Eng Chuan and Lance Corporal Folinton Olinggang, also received certificates of appreciation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The state authorities, especially the Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Environment Department have been urged to continue to monitor water quality and risk of river pollution in Negeri Sembilan, particularly at the water sources located near the borders of neighbouring states including Selangor.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said this was to prevent any untoward incident that could jeopardise clean water supply which would affect the people in the state as well as several others.

He said the authorities must pay serious attention to the issue as it affects the community and the people must be protected from the negative impacts of water pollution.

“There is a river in Selangor that originates in Negeri Sembilan and that is one of the locations that Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had always requested us to pay attention to,” he told reporters after chairing the weekly executive council meeting here today.

Last Dec 24, an accident involving a lorry carrying a load of perfume oil at KM 44.1 of the North-South Expressway (Elite) northbound near Bandar Serenia, Negeri Sembilan caused the Sungai Semenyih and Bukit Tampoi water treatment plants to be shut down on the same day.

He said the community is also responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the river which are natural resources of water that are useful to humans and important to the environment.

Meanwhile, Aminuddin said the state government has agreed to continue giving discounts of up to 25 per cent to developers who settle their land premiums within one to three months as an encouragement to the business sector in the state.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, Jan 11 (Bernama) — The Labuan Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) will continue to monitor all the beaches on this island following recent sightings of crocodiles.

Its chief Welter Siringon said among the methods implemented was to fire shots into the air to drive the reptiles away from the beach.

“Previously this was done at the LKIM Kiamsam jetty when a crocodile was spotted near the jetty, we will continue to monitor all the beaches on the island,” he told Bernama today.

Welter said it was not an easy task to ensure that the entire Labuan coast remained free from the presence of crocodiles.

“There may not only be one crocodile, but maybe three or four, and these reptiles come and go.

“Based on our monitoring, these crocodiles swim from the waters of Sabah to Labuan and back to Sabah, and when we fire shots to drive them away, it is quite difficult for us to guarantee that they will not return,” he said.

Welter said another effort being made was to put up crocodile threat warning signs on almost all the beaches on the island in collaboration with the Labuan Corporation.

“We have already placed them in two areas in the Kina Benuwa mangrove forest, in addition to the Sawangan Cina beach and Kg Ganggarak State Co-curriculum Centre, while those in other areas will follow,” he said.

Welter reminded the public to take precautions when picnicking at the beach, especially with children.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) — Proposals to develop and upgrade infrastructure and facilities for hawkers in Kuala Lumpur were among the issues discussed in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s meeting with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) today.

The Prime Minister held the meeting with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah and DBKL executive director (socio-economic development) Datuk Azmi Abdul Hamid at the Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya.

“Hawkers and petty traders are among the contributors to the national economy who need to be given attention so that they are not left behind,” he said in a post on Facebook.

Previously, Anwar said local authorities, especially those in urban areas should provide adequate infrastructure and facilities for hawkers and petty traders to conduct business in a conducive environment.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency