Day: January 19, 2023

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Phase two of Labuan fish landing complex ready in March

LABUAN– The second phase of the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority (LKIM) fish landing complex in Labuan is expected to be completed in March this year.

The RM18 million project under the 11th Malaysia Plan of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is an expansion of LKIM’s existing jetty in Kiamsam to be used as fish landings following an increase in seafood landings.

Public Works Department (JKR) director Ir. Suhaizad Sulaiman said the existing jetty cannot accommodate the fish landing capacity.

“This second phase development project started on Feb 18, 2019, and is being closely monitored by the JKR to ensure the smooth running of the project and compliance with the given specifications.

“Although the contractors faced challenges such as the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the COVID -19 pandemic and supply shortages of construction materials in Labuan and Sabah, they did a good job in completing the project,” he told Bernama today.

The LKIM development project of the second phase includes the construction of a dual-function pier (mooring and landing), one unit of Class E quarters, four units of Class G quarters, a water tank, a suction tank, and a pump house.

The development project also includes the construction of an external water reticulation system, a sewerage system and tank, a small-scale sewage treatment system (SSTS), a surface water drainage system, an internal drainage system, roadside and main road sewerage system improvements, electrical, and mechanical works.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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MOE proposes to increase preschool food assistance rate in Budget 2023

PUTRAJAYA– The Education Ministry has proposed to increase the rate for Preschool Food Assistance (BMP) from RM2 to RM2.50 in Peninsular Malaysia, and RM2.25 to RM2.75 in Sabah and Sarawak.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said the ministry had submitted a proposal to the Finance Ministry to increase BMP in Budget 2023, as the current rate showed that preschoolers were not getting enough nutrition for their growth.

“We, at the ministry, are fighting for more funds to ensure nutrition for preschoolers,” she told a press conference after delivering her new year’s address to ministry staff here today.

Fadhlina said that various initiatives were being examined and tuned by the ministry to strengthen preschool education, including increasing the number of preschool classes per year, increasing the pupils’ enrollment, as well as the quality of teachers and their assistants.

She said the ministry also proposed to establish 118 preschool classes nationwide this year, including in poor urban and rural areas, as well as interiors.

On the Madani concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Fadhlina said it was also instilled as part of the ministry’s aspirations and thrusts to strengthen the country’s education system, for example, on the issue of sustainability of teaching and curriculum, as well as the welfare of teachers and students.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Additional of over 3,000 personnel needed to improve services – JBPM

PUTRAJAYA– The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is requesting an increase of 3,400 personnel as one of the measures to improve its services to the people.

Its director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the increase was part of the department’s restructuring measures that would be presented to the Local Government Development Ministry.

“We will present to the government the three phases involved which are the critical and important aspects as the first phase, secondly, the strategic operations and thirdly, strengthening including the modernisation of services,” he told reporters after the 2023 JBPM Annual Parade at its headquarters here today.

He said the recruitment was also based on 22 factors and criteria such as the population which determines whether the strength of the members was sufficient.

Hamdan said his department will add 12 more sniffer dogs after the live assets displayed good performance in the search and rescue (SAR) operation of the landslide tragedy at the Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali, last December.

He said the purchase had been approved by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) to add to the existing 36 dogs.

According to him, the cost for a detection dog and handling package can reach RM400,000.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency