Day: January 25, 2023

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 25 (Bernama) –The 2023 Federal Territory Day celebration will be held on a moderate scale on Feb 1 with expenditure on the celebration reduced by almost 10 times from before, said Federal Territories Department (JWP) director-general Datuk Seri Rosida Jaafar.

She said this was in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for cost-saving measures to be taken so that the savings could be used to help tithe recipients and the B40 group in the Federal Territory.

“It is not that we are doing away with the celebration, but it will be held on a prudent and modest scale. We will continue to implement the usual programmes with the community, schools and the private sector,” she told reporters after the Federal Territories Flag Handover Ceremony and Bantuan Kasih Putrajaya programme here, today.

At the event, a total of 10,000 Federal Territories flags were distributed to 60 residents’ associations, 54 Neighbouhood Watch Areas (KRT) and 27 schools in Putrajaya to foster a sense of belonging among Federal Territory residents.

In addition, gift vouchers worth RM300 each were given to 100 recipients from poor and B40 households in Putrajaya.

Rosida said JWP had issued a directive calling for the installation and flying of the Federal Territories flag at private sector or privately owned premises in the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

“Yes, we have issued a directive but not to the extent that they will fined if they fail to do so. Those who comply can look forward to discounted licence renewal and other goodies,” she said when asked if action would be taken on defires.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KLUANG, Jan 25 (Bernama) — Over 2,000 plantation workers and residents of Orang Asli settlements in Kahang, near here, have been cut off after the road leading to the area was inundated by flood waters.

Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said some 1,700 plantation workers and 647 Orang Asli from the Pucur, Peroh, Sengka, Air Pasir Batu 17, Berasau and Sedohok settlements were affected.

Efforts to supply them with food and essentials will be carried out tomorrow morning, he said.

“We have enquired about their food stock, which should hold until tomorrow.

“If the weather permits, we will use helicopters as the distance cut off is only about less than a kilometre,” he told reporters here today, adding that several other agencies will also try to make their way in with food and essentials tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Kamarul Zaman said some 12,400 officers and security and rescue personnel are on standby for the floods in Johor.

He also advised flood victims to move to flood relief centres as instructed by the authorities and not to be unduly worried about valuables left behind as police will be monitoring all flood-hit areas.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 25 (Bernama) — The number of dengue fever cases in the 3rd epidemiological week this year (ME3/23) from Jan 15 to 21 dropped by eight per cent or 201 cases to 2,319 cases compared to 2,520 cases in the previous week.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, in a statement today, said one death due to dengue fever complications was also reported during the week.

The cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported so far is 7,058 compared to 2,165 cases in the corresponding period in 2022, an increase of 226 per cent or 4,893 cases, with three deaths compared to zero during the same period last year.

“A total of 80 hotspot localities were reported in ME3/23, of which 50 were in Selangor, Sabah (14), Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya (nine) and Penang (seven),” he said.

Regarding chikungunya, Dr Noor Hisham said a total of 11 cases were recorded in ME3/23, with three cases each in Kedah, Penang and Selangor and two in Perak, making the cumulative number to date 47 cases.

“As for Zika surveillance, 150 blood samples and one urine sample had been screened, and the results were all negative,” he said.

The public can visit the iDengue portal at https://idengue.mysa.gov.my/ for the latest updates on the dengue situation or to check dengue status in residential areas, workplaces and other areas.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 25 (Bernama) — A total of seven roads in three districts of the state have been rendered impassable by all types of vehicles due to floods, tonight.

The Sabah Public Works Department (JKR) in a statement said three roads involved the Kudat district, namely Jalan Pinawantai, Jalan Kampung Pengaraban, and Jalan Indrasan, while another three roads were in Pitas (Jalan Liu Malibang, Jalan Kabatasan, and Jalan Kanibongan) and one in Kota Marudu (Jalan Teringai).

“The flooding occurred due to continuous heavy rain. A traffic management plan has been set up on the roads involved and continuous monitoring is currently being carried out,” read the statement.

According to Sabah JKR, only one lane of the Nangoh-Paitan-Kanibongan route was passable due to the flood conditions

Meanwhile, it said Jalan Sebayan in Kudat was cut off due to a landslide, while a slope collapse was detected on Jalan Radtak Induon in the same district and the road is still passable, however, road users were advised to be careful.

Sabah JKR earlier reported that five roads in Kudat district were cut off, namely Jalan Abdul Rahim, Jalan Sebayan, Jalan Datu, Jalan Bak Bak, and Jalan Lo Thein Chok.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 25 (Bernama) — The government has recommended that the name of the Touch ‘n Go (TnG) visa card be changed so as not to confuse users as the word ‘Touch ‘n Go’ is synonymous with the toll payment system, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.

It is one of the immediate actions directed by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) in an engagement session with TNG management to resolve issues arising from TnG card services, he said.

Salahuddin said TnG needs to explain to users that TNG visa prepaid cards are only for the purpose of purchasing goods and services and for withdrawing money.

“This card cannot be used for the purpose of paying tolls and public transport,” he said in a statement issued in conjunction with the engagement session where one of the issues raised was the use of TnG visa cards, especially for toll payments.

Salahuddin said TnG has also been instructed to carry out advocacy and early notification to users to inform them of the expiry of the card period, in addition to improving methods and speeding up the process and period of refunds and balance transfers.

TnG was also instructed to add card sales centres and TNG services in locations other than the existing centres in KL Sentral and Bangsar, in addition to asking online business platform providers to take down advertisements selling TnG cards by third parties who do not have permission to sell the cards, he said.

“TnG was also given one week to produce the next follow-up action plan,” he said.

Salahuddin said the KPDN’s enforcement division will take legal action against any party that sells TnG cards above the price set by the issuer under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 25 (Bernama) — A teenager is feared drowned after diving off a bridge with two other friends into Sungai Parit Haji Anuar at Batu 18 Ayer Hitam in Bakri near Muar this afternoon.

Muar District police chief ACP Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said they received a call about the incident involving the 19-year-old teenager at 3.37pm today.

He said officers from Bakri and Parit Java police stations rushed there, along with officers from the Muar Fire and Rescue Station (JBPM) and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).

“In what was an outing, the victim and two male friends aged 20 and 21 jumped off the bridge for a swim. Immediately on appearing from the depths, the victim was struggling and his friends tried to save him but in vain because the current was too strong,” he said.

He said a Crime Scene Control Post (PKTK) was opened at the location while Muar JBPM operations commander Senior Fire Officer I KUP Mohd Johar Tumin added that his team of 12 officers, including six from the Water Rescue Team (PPDA), were sent to the location for the search and rescue operation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency