Day: January 15, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has confirmed that a viral video clip, lasting two minutes 27 seconds, showing a man perform azan (Islamic call to prayer) in a religious ritual, is not from Malaysia.

MCMC said that checks conducted found that the video originated from abroad and was re-transmitted as if took place in Malaysia.

“The MCMC stresses that such videos are seen as threatening content, and can create uneasiness between communities of various races and religions in this country,” MCMC said in a statement today.

In this regard, MCMC urged the public not to share the said clip, as it is feared that it may portray an inaccurate context and may be used by irresponsible individuals or parties to provoke inter-faith communities in Malaysia.

MCMC also asked the public not to add captions that are speculative and provocative, but to channel or report them to the authorities for further action.

“Members of the public are also reminded to always be vigilant, and avoid uploading any content which may touch religious sensitivities, for the sake of harmony in the country,” read the statement.

The circulation of provocative content with the intention of causing disharmony, hatred and prejudice is an offence under the Penal Code (Act 574), that will result in a fine or imprisonment or both if convicted.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 15 (Bernama) — Online registration to participate in the National Taxation Seminar (SPK) 2022 to discuss the various initiatives related to direct taxation after the tabling of Budget 2023, reopens from tomorrow.

The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) said that the seminar, registration for which can be done through its seminar registration portal at https://spk.hasil.gov.my will be held in two sessions, on March 7 and 8.

“Two key topics will be discussed namely “Budget 2023 Proposals” and “Corporate Taxation Governance – an IRB Perspective” by experienced speakers comprising senior IRB officers as well as professional panelists representing tax practitioners.

“The public especially tax practitioners, accounting firms and professionals and taxpayers are encouraged to attend the seminar which will offer the latest information regarding amendments to all Acts administered by IRB following the re-tabling of Budget 2023 by the Minister of Finance on Feb 24,” it said in a statement today.

According to the statement, SPK 2022 was scheduled to take place in October last year but had to be postponed following the government’s decision to re-table Budget 2023.

IRB said participants who have registered for SPK 2022 (Session 1: Oct 12, 2022 and Session 2: Oct 13 2022), will be automatically registered as participants for Session 1: March 7, 2023 and Session 2: March 8 2023.

The statement also informed that participants who wish to change the seminar session can do so from tomorrow through the Seminar Registration Portal and only participants who have made full payment of the participation fee will be allowed to attend the session.

“Participants who have registered but have yet to make payment and wish to confirm participation can also do so through the Seminar Registration Portal,” the statement said.

Further information on the seminar can be obtained by contacting the SPK 2022 Secretariat (Budget 2023) via email at spkhasil@hasil.gov.my.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds which are expected to occur in nine states until 7 pm today.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the states involved are Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Sarawak.

In Kedah, the areas to be affected are Kuala Muda, Baling, Kulim, and Bandar Baharu, while in Perak are areas in Larut, Matang and Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang, and Muallim.

The warning is also issued for Bentong and Kuantan in Pahang; Hulu Selangor, Gombak, and Hulu Langat in Selangor as well as Jelebu, Kuala Pilah, Jempol, and Tampin in Negeri Sembilan.

Similar weather conditions are also expected to occur in Johor (Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai, and Johor Bahru) as well as Sarawak in Sri Aman, Betong (Betong), Sarikei (Pakan and Julau) and Kapit (Song).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MARANG, Jan 15 (Bernama) — The Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Indo-Malayan Kelulut Repository, which houses over 20 unique and rare species of the stingless bee, is expected to become a new ecotourism attraction in Terengganu.

Head of the UMT Bee and Stingless Bee Researcher Group (SIG), Prof Dr Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak said the repository, located at a 0.4-hectare site at UMT’s second campus in Bukit Kor here, was developed in April last year at a cost of RM100,000.

He said it was set up with the main objective of serving as a genetic bank or collection centre for various species of sting bees for use as reference and research by researchers nationwide.

“Among the sing bee species found here are Heterotrigona erythrogastra, Tetrigona apicalis, Homotrigona aliceae, Tetrogona binghami, Sundatrigona moorei and Tetrogona peninsularis which are not found elsewhere,” he told Bernama when met at the repository in Bukit Kor here.

Shamsul Bahri said the repository in Bukit Kor was also developed to replace the original repository at the Sekayu State Agricultural Park, Hulu Terengganu, which was destroyed during the major flood in 2021.

According to him, the floods caused huge losses not only to the university, but also to researchers and the state’s ecotourism sector.

“The original repository at Sekayu was the first in Malaysia and it became the world’s largest collection centre for stingless bees.

“SIG took decades to gather the collection through travels around the world. It is very sad when all is lost overnight,” he added.

He said SIG was now trying to get funds to develop the repository in Bukit Kor as a state ecotourism destination with plans being made to set up an information centre and the use of Internet of Things (IOT) technology for the purpose of monitoring and disseminating information to visitors.

“The UMT second campus at Bukit Kor is very large. It would be a shame if it is not developed because of its potential to become an ecotourism destination.

“Apart from the stingless bee repository, Bukit Kor is also an agricultural area,” he said.

In a related development, Shamsul Bahri said SIG is hoping to get the repository in Bukit Koh into the Malaysia Book Of Records (MBOR) as the first repository having the largest number of Indo-Malayan species of stingless bees.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) — Several Cabinet ministers wish “Happy Ponggal” to the Tamil community celebrating the harvest festival today.

National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in his Facebook posting prayed that this festival of Ponggal which means an overflow of abundance in Tamil brings prosperity to this country.

“I and all those in the National Unity Ministry would like to wish ‘Happy Thaiponggal’ to the Indian community in Malaysia.

“With the Malaysian Indian community celebrating the Thai month which marks a new beginning, I would like to take this opportunity to wish ‘Ponggal Vaalthukal’ and may it also bring an abundance of prosperity,” he said.

Also wishing a Happy Ponggal is Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil on his Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“Happy Ponggal to the entire Tamil community in Malaysia. May this year bring prosperity, good health and great fortune for all,” he said.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa expressed hope that this year would bring prosperity to all.

“Today the Tamil community in the country celebrate the Ponggal festival which marks the beginning of a new life and it is an important celebration, especially for farmers. May this year’s Ponggal celebration bring prosperity to those celebrating it,” she said.

Meanwhile, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu hopes that this year’s Ponggal festival will be celebrated with joy and happiness.

“The word Ponggal in Tamil means ‘to overflow’, hence the tradition of cooking the new rice in fresh milk in pots until they overflow to symbolise abundance of wealth,” he said.

Ponggal is celebrated for four days beginning from the first day of ‘Thai’ month in the Tamil calendar, as a form of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PASIR GUDANG, Jan 15 (Bernama) — Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) allocates about RM1 billion annually to carry out works to repair and upgrade the water piping system throughout Peninsular Malaysia, says its chief executive officer, Abdul Hadi Ali.

He said the allocation would be channelled to state water supply companies according to their respective annual business plans.

However, the states of Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu do not come under PAAB’s management, he added.

“On average, the total annual allocation given out by PAAB is about RM1 billion. For pipe replacement works alone, there is an expenditure of RM600 million.

“In Johor alone, about RM400 million was spent to replace pipes, whereas around RM200 million was spent in Kelantan,” he told reporters after officiating the national-level PAAB’s e-comics contest at Taman Scientex secondary school, here, today.

Abdul Hadi said in addition to the pipe replacement initiative, some states are more focused on constructing new water treatment plants, and water tanks, and participating in non-revenue water reduction initiatives.

He said this when asked about PAAB’s annual expenditure to implement repair and upgrading works for the country’s piping system.

He added upgrading and repair works this year would be conducted in several states including Johor, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor.

PAAB, a wholly-owned company of the Minister of Finance Incorporated, was established in 2006 and is regulated by the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) through the Water Services Industry Act 2006.

It is to help the federal government realise the National Water Services Industry Restructuring Plan and is responsible for developing water assets in the peninsula with a competitive financing rate.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BATU PAHAT, Jan 15 (Bernama) — Efforts to find a missing teacher Musthafa Kamal Abdullah, 49, who went missing while performing the umrah pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, more than a month ago, continue, said his eldest son, Muhammad Nabil Musthafa.

Muhammad Nabil, 26, said that he will be leaving for Makkah this Friday (Jan 20) and will be there for 14 days.

He will be accompanied by his younger brother, Muaz, 17, and several friends of his father, to continue searching for Musthafa, as his family, including their mother, Zurina Muhammad @ Shamsuddin, 49, are confident that their father is still alive.

“I personally will be distributing posters of our ‘babah’ (father) when I am in Makkah. I will be performing umrah too and I hope the efforts will lead us to him.

“I also hope that my family’s efforts and hopes to find babah will continue to receive cooperation from the governments of both countries (Malaysia and Saudi Arabia),” he said when the family received a visit from Sri Gading Member of Parliament, Aminolhuda Hassan, at their residence in Sri Gading here today.

Meanwhile, Muaz, who was performing umrah with Musthafa when the latter went missing on Dec 12 last year, said that he only realised the incident after discovering his father was not in his hotel room after complaining of being unwell, and did not perform the tawaf ritual with him.

On Friday, Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, reportedly said that the Malaysian representatives (Malawakil) in Saudi Arabia were closely monitoring the situation, and will take appropriate action to help locate the missing Malaysian pilgrim.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency