Day: January 27, 2023

MUAR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — An aerial surveillance by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) today found the flood situation in the districts of Segamat, Kluang and Muar showing positive signs of decreasing water levels.

Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order (General Operations Force) Department deputy director Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said this could be clearly seen from the air.

“In Kluang, for example, the areas around Kampung Contoh and the Orang Asli village are showing signs of water levels decreasing, although, in some other areas like Bukit Kepong, Muar, the situation is still not stable,” he told reporters after carrying out an aerial survey of the floods in Johor at the General Operations Force 6th Battalion Camp, Bakri, here, today.

He also said that helicopters from the PDRM air wing unit and Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department had been used to send food supplies to interior areas cut off from main routes due to floods.

As of 4 pm today, the District Disaster Management Committee reported that the number of flood victims in Johor had dropped to 3,498 people from 969 families in seven districts, adding that they have all been placed at 38 temporary relief centres.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — The National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN) under the Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) has issued a flash flood warning for six states from tonight.

In Perak, the areas at risk of being affected are the Kerian district (subdistricts of Gunong Semanggol, Beriah and the surrounding areas) while in Pahang, it involves the district of Kuantan (Sungai Karang and the surrounding areas).

In Terengganu, the districts at risk of flash floods are Kuala Terengganu (Cenering, Batu Buruk, Kuala Terengganu and surrounding areas) and Marang (Bukit Payung and surrounding areas) while in Kelantan it involves the district of Kota Bharu (Padang Raja, Tiong, Tok Ku and surrounding areas).

In Sarawak, it involves three districts, namely Kuching, Samarahan and Miri while in Sabah, it involves the Tuaran district in Pekan Tenghilan, Kampung Berungis and the surrounding areas.

The notice, issued at 5 pm, based on the Malaysian Meteorological Department’s (MetMalaysia) rain forecast, the Southeastern Asia-Oceania Flash Flood Guidance System (SAOFFGS) and the JPS flood forecast model states that there is a risk of flash floods in several locations in the states involved in the event of heavy rain or a significant thunderstorm.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — Vice-Admiral Datuk Abdul Rahman Ayob has been appointed as the new Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), effective today.

He replaced Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, who is going on mandatory retirement.

The handover of duties ceremony for the Navy chief was held at Wisma Pertahanan here and was graced by Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.

Also present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abd Aziz and top military officials.

The appointment also saw Abdul Rahman being the first submariner to become Navy chief.

He joined the Navy as an Officer Cadet on July 2, 1982, and was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on June 13, 1984.

Among the positions he had held throughout his service include Commander of the Submarine Force, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Mindanao International Observation Team, Commander of Naval Areas 2, and Commander of Eastern Fleet before being appointed as Deputy Chief of Navy in 2019.

Abdul Rahman’s career as a submariner began in 1993 after he completed his submarine training at HMAS Platypus in Australia and obtained his Submarine Qualification badge.

He then attended a number of submarine familiarisation training in Sweden in 1995 and France in 1999 and completed his Basic Submarine Course (Agosta Class) in 2006 in France.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Navy expressed its appreciation to Mohd Reza for his 42 years of dedication, especially when leading the force since Nov 30, 2018.

It also announced the appointment of Eastern Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral Datuk Sabri Zali as the Deputy Chief of Navy to replace Abdul Rahman.

Sabri has served in the Navy for more than 38 years before being appointed as the Eastern Fleet Commander on Dec 24, 2020.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MARANG, Jan 27 (Bernama) — There are about 600 vacancies in the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), mainly for Grade KB19.

JBPM director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said the vacant posts would be filled gradually to increase the strength of the 14,500 personnel currently deployed nationwide.

“Last year, we recruited about 1,000 new personnel to fill vacancies in the existing and new fire stations.

“To fill the current vacancy, recruitment will be done in stages,” he told reporters after officiating the ceremony to award service medals to the Eastern Region Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy and the Terengganu JBPM here today.

Mohammad Hamdan said that, on Feb 1, the Eastern Region Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy will take in about 130 new trainees to undergo training and the Fire Science Certificate course, and it is hoped that this will help fill the existing Grade KB-19 vacancy.

Meanwhile, he said the project to develop training facilities at the Eastern Region Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy, which includes the construction of a water and highway rescue training complex, is expected to be completed next year.

“The project to develop this training facility has been approved by the government under the 12th Malaysian Plan, with an allocation of RM46 million.

“When completed, it will be one of the centres for training rescuers conducting search and rescue operations in situations involving swift water flow, floods, and so on,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has urged that the practice of giving warning to teachers who criticise on social media to be stopped immediately.

She said she was informed that special education teacher at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Reko Hasmadi Hamdan had been given a warning by officials for his criticisms on social media.

“Special education teachers are my front line in developing madani concept in teaching students with special needs. His concerns are mine too,“ she said in a post on her official Facebook today.

“It is important to have an avenue for constructive criticism as a check and balance process,” she said adding that it was good to have differences of opinions as long as they are in the interest of the students and their welfare.

According to her a good administrative management approach can only succeed when there is transparency at the classroom, school and education office levels.

Through the post Fadhlina also shared Hasmadi’s public message to the Minister of Education that was uploaded from the teacher’s social media channel.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — The Parliament should be separate and distinct from the judiciary and executive branches in conformity with the reformation spirit, said Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.

He said this can be achieved by amending the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 and the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

“The administration of the Parliament is still controlled by the government of the day via a department (under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department). Certainly, that is not the way and this is not a matter to be taken lightly.

“Hence, we put forward the view that the period for changes is happening, we make that happen, and we have to ask one question: how do we change the scenario? The answer (is) we change the law,” he said during the Parliament Lecture Series 1.0 Resetting the Malaysian Economy here today.

In order for the Parliament to be independent, he said the legislative branch needs to have its own financial and administrative resources and the authority to determine the operation of Parliament internally, as it is for the United States Congress and House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

The Parliamentary Services Act was introduced in 1963, paving the way for the Dewan Rakyat to act as an independent body, running its own affairs, selecting its staff and controlling its expenditure. However, it was repealed in 1992.

On the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, he said under the law, the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara president have the executive powers in terms of controlling the behaviour of the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators for lack of decorum.

Stating a few examples of misbehaviours by MPs deemed wrongful under the law, he said the amendment needs to be done to increase the fine and for the Standing Order to conform with the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a congratulatory message from United States (US) President Joe Biden, who also commended Malaysia’s inspiring democracy in the 15th General Election (GE15) last November.

Anwar said the US President also expressed commitment to deepen its relations with Malaysia including in the areas of digital economy, climate crisis, and energy security.

“I look forward to working closely with him (Biden) for the mutual benefit of our people,” Anwar said as he uploaded the congratulatory message from Biden on Facebook today.

Biden in his note dated Jan 24, said as democracies around the world face unprecedented challenges, Malaysia’s election demonstrated that democracies can deliver.

“Millions of Malaysians stepped up and made their voices heard – casting their ballots in the general election, many for the first time.

“Civic engagement is the cornerstone of free and open societies and Malaysians have inspired people around the world with their commitment to exercising their fundamental freedom,” he said.

Biden also pointed out that the relationship between both countries was built on a strong foundation of the ever-growing economy, security and people-to-people ties which have also helped strengthen freedom, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

“In the years ahead, I look forward to deepening our partnership even further – including working together to build inclusive economic growth and resilient supply chains through the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

“Together, we can advance a free, open, secure and prosperous region – one that benefits both of our people,” he added.

Anwar took his oath of office as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara on Nov 24 last year.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency