Day: March 1, 2023

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Transport Ministry considering bringing back iconic Penang ferry

GEORGE TOWN, March 1 (Bernama) — The Federal Government is considering bringing back the iconic Penang ferry, which services were terminated in 2020.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the ferries were still available for service and there are plans to have them operational once again in the future.

“We will look into what form of operation this iconic ferry will take, whether it will be a tourist ferry, a roro ferry or a museum ferry. We will hold discussions with the Penang Port Commission (PPC) regarding this later,” he told reporters after a one-day visit to Penang today.

Loke also said the plan could face some challenges in terms of operation as the old terminal had long been refurbished to accommodate the new ferries.

“The refurbishment project on both the island and mainland terminals currently cannot accommodate iconic ferry operations involving four-wheeled vehicles,” he said.

After being the oldest form of transport in Penang, the iconic ferry service, as an alternative route from Seberang Perai to the island and vice versa was replaced by speedboat services starting Jan 1, 2021.

The speedboats are only used to transport pedestrians while the iconic ferry only carries motorcycles and bicycles.

Meanwhile, Loke said the new ferry services will begin operations on Aug 1 carrying only pedestrians and motorcycles.

He said although there had been requests for the new ferry service to also transport four-wheeled vehicles, the four new ferries pre-booked only have the capacity for pedestrians and motorcycles.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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No criminal element in case of sergeant found with gunshot wounds – Police

GEORGE TOWN, March 1 (Bernama) — Detailed investigations into an incident involving a police sergeant who was found dead with three gunshot wounds behind the Bayan Lepas Police Station near here on Feb 19, have found no criminal element in the case.

Penang Police chief Datuk Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said findings from the post-mortem and the pathology visit to the scene of the incident were consistent with initial investigations of a possible suicide.

“We will send (a complete report) to request an inquest,” he told reporters here today. .

In the incident at 3.30 pm, a gun was also found on the body of a 51-year-old victim who was on duty at the station with gunshot wounds to the neck, chest and head.

Commenting further, Mohd Shuhaily said no one witnessed the incident, but some heard the sound of gunshots.

He said the policemen who heard the gunshots went straight to the scene, only to find the sergeant dead.

“There was no closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera in the area where the incident occurred.

“We have called three policemen to record statements to assist investigations and so far, there have been no elements of crime found,” he said.

Mohd Shuhaily described the sergeant as a friendly, pleasant, and diligent individual.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Confidentiality of taxpayer data on MyTax safe, secure – IRB

PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (Bernama) — The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has emphasised that the confidentiality of taxpayers’ data is safe and secure as it is protected by recognised data security technology.

The IRB said in a statement that it took a serious view of allegations about taxpayer data leakage which went viral on social media today.

The IRB added that it would prioritise efforts to increase taxpayers’ confidence and trust in the services provided in taxation administration matters.

“The IRB will continue to improve service quality and act proactively and transparently to deal with this issue,” it said.

A local news portal today reported that netizens claimed that the personal information of taxpayers could be accessed by anyone through the MyTax platform, which serves as a one-stop centre for taxpayers to settle tax issues online.

The report also said that one only needs a MyKad identification number to access sensitive information like home address, telephone number, bank account number, e-mail address and tax identification number.

MyTax is an information gateway and one-stop centre for taxpayers that the IRB introduced on Nov 19, 2020.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Govt needs six months to tackle diesel subsidy leakages – Salahuddin

KUALA TERENGGANU, March 1 (Bernama) — The government needs at least six months to deal with the problem of diesel subsidy leakages in the country, said Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub.

He said this will give reasonable time to identify the causes and mobilise the necessary assets to curb diesel smuggling activities which are among the causes of subsidy leakages.

He said the ministry has also established a Steering Committee and a Technical Committee to monitor the problem in a meeting this morning chaired by KPDN secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof.

“Give us six months to monitor developments. We will work with several other ministries because the 2,100 enforcement staff under KPDN will not be able to do the job themselves.

“The six-month period should be sufficient because previously through Ops Naga we also took six months to make sure our waters are not invaded,” he said after a consumer advocacy programme and presentation of school uniforms and schooling aid for Terengganu primary pupils here today.

In Budget 2023 that was presented on Feb 24, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is also the Minister of Finance raised the issue of leakages in the implementation of diesel subsidies with almost RM10 billion worth of diesel subsidies misappropriated in 2022.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Tender for PIA expansion project to be called in two months – Loke

GEORGE TOWN, March 1 (Bernama) — The expansion of the Penang International Airport (PIA) announced in Budget 2023 will be funded by Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), and the tender for the project will be called in two months’ time.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his visit to the airport found an urgent need for the project to be completed immediately.

“The tender for the first phase of the expansion project will be called in two months’ time by MAHB so that work can commence this year. We expect the project to be completed within three to four years.

“Once completed, the airport capacity will be increased to 12 million passengers per annum from the current 6.5 million passengers per annum,” he told reporters after a one-day visit to Penang today.

Loke said the government believes that MAHB is capable of financing the project as it is a profitable airport.

“The cost will be borne using a mechanism that will be agreed upon by both MAHB and Finance Ministry. That is why I don’t announce the cost of the project, as it will be done through an open tender,” he explained.

Loke said PIA is the third busiest airport in Malaysia, and the last time it was upgraded was in 2013.

“This expansion project will not involve any land reclamation and the entire cost will be borne by MAHB,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about the Kulim International Airport, Loke said the ministry has not received any application for an aerodrome licence.

Earlier, the minister also visited the Penang ferry terminal, Penang Sentral and paid a courtesy call to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Peace effort in Mindanao has to succeed – Anwar

MANILA, March 1 (Bernama) — Efforts to attain peace in Mindanao, southern Philippines, have to succeed because their failure could affect not only the Philippines and Malaysia but also the whole region, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He applauded Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for making great strides to ensure the peace process in Mindanao would be successful.

“It is our (Malaysia) duty as a good neighbour to support this effort (peace process). We will have to utilise all bilateral and multilateral means to achieve this.

“The peace process has to succeed, because it not only affects the Philippines and Malaysia but also the region,” he said at a joint press briefing after holding a bilateral meeting with Marcos at Malacanang Palace here.

Anwar arrived in Manila today to begin a two-day official visit, his fifth to ASEAN countries after becoming prime minister late last year.

Earlier, Anwar attended an official welcoming ceremony at the Malacanang Palace and inspected a guard of honour mounted by 165 soldiers of the Philippine Armed Forces.

Anwar is accompanied by his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and several Cabinet members on the visit.

The prime minister said Malaysia remained committed to playing a constructive role in the peace process in Mindanao.

“Malaysia will also continue to offer assistance to the Bangsamoro people, to various capacity-building programmes, including through our Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP),” he said.

According to Anwar, there are immense opportunities to be reaped by both countries should efforts to attain peace in Mindanao succeed.

Meanwhile, Marcos commended the progress made towards achieving sustainable and inclusive peace in Mindanao.

“It is a combination of years and effort and sincerity among all parties which will soon realise the dividends of peace,” he said.

The Philippines, according to him, recognised the great contribution that Malaysia had made to the peace process in southern Philippines.

He hoped the support shown by Malaysia would continue to contribute to the success of the peace process and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

On the issue of Filipino immigrants in Malaysia, Anwar said he had asked for the Philippines’ assistance and cooperation to expedite the documentation of its nationals so that they could be repatriated to their country in a timely manner.

“I also reaffirmed Malaysia’s readiness to discuss with the Philippines the ways to address the illegal Filipino immigrants (issue) in Malaysia,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Federal gov’t committed to preserving Sabah’s peace, prosperity, security – Azalina

KOTA KINABALU, March 1 (Bernama) — The Federal Government is committed to the affairs of the people of Sabah and will make every effort to ensure there is peace, prosperity and security in the state.

The government will also not compromise on aspects of sovereignty and security and will continue to protect and preserve Malaysia’s interests, immunity and sovereignty, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“The government will continue to take all necessary action to stop the demands of the Sultan of Sulu by using all available powers, rights and resources,” she said in a statement here today.

Earlier, Azalina attended a briefing on the issue of claims by purported heirs of the Sulu Sultanate with the state government and Sabah community members here. Also present were Sabah Deputy Chief Minister 1 Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and 25 state assemblymen.

Meanwhile, she said the briefing was aimed at explaining the background on the issue of the claim and developments related to the legal action in four jurisdictions, namely Spain, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

“In addition, this briefing also aims to get views from Sabahans who are directly affected,” she said.

She said the briefing was held together with Federal Government officials from the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), and representatives of the Special Secretariat on the claim, Prof Datuk Dr Sundra Rajoo and Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency