Day: March 8, 2023

SEREMBAN, March 8 (Bernama) — The Negeri Sembilan government reminded politicians against using mosques and surau in the state as a stage for political speeches, said Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

He said that it was aimed at ensuring that the institution was not misused, in addition to maintaining harmony and thus preserving the sanctity of Islam.

In fact, he said that the ban on preventing any politician or people’s representative from using the mosque as a ‘venue’ for lectures had long been issued by the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department.

“We remind those who come to lecture here, not to give political lectures, to be careful; we don’t want this to damage the institution of the mosque. If you want to give a talk, do it in public places… don’t disturb mosques and surau.

“Our people’s representative does not deliver a talk in the mosque because we respect (the order). We don’t want any political speech in the mosque, that’s all,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council (exco) meeting here today.

In the meantime, he said that there is no restriction for certain speakers to hold talks in the state thus far.

Yesterday, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was reported to have said that all parties need to respect and comply with the instructions of the state religious authorities, regarding the ban on politicians delivering political lectures or talks in mosques and surau.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) — Pendang Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Awang Hashim, from Perikatan Nasional (PN), has been ejected and suspended from attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting for two days, starting today.

The Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Datuk Johari Abdul, issued the order after Awang made several attempts to interrupt Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli’s winding up debate, on the Supply Bill 2023 at the policy level.

Rafizi, however, did not tolerate Awang interrupting his winding up session, until Johari had to issue the order.

“I suspend Pendang (Awang) for two days. Out now,” said Johari.

Johari’s order against Awang caused a shouting match, as the government bloc also called for Awang to leave the House, but several MPs from the opposition bloc, including Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa), stood up to defend Awang.

Ahmad Marzuk rose to say that Rafizi called Awang a ‘clown’, and it was not a worthy word of being spoken in Parliament.

Rafizi admitted to saying the word and was later asked by Johari to retract his statement against Awang.

“I retract my statement that Pendang is a clown,” said Rafizi, then Johari still ordered Awang to leave the Dewan Rakyat session.

Johari’s instructions still cause dissatisfaction among the opposition bloc, including Ahmad Marzuk, who believes the Speaker’s decision is unfair and should have warned Awang first.

“I said that if a minister does not allow an MP to intervene, don’t raise anything. I have told him (Pendang) to stand down many times already because the minister didn’t allow him to intervene,” said Johari.

“I feel I cannot control the House anymore as people want to hear what we are discussing. That is why Pendang is being suspended today and tomorrow. Please leave,” said Johari.

However, a shouting match ensued as Awang refused to leave the House, and several MPs from the government bloc were even heard calling for Awang to leave, until Johari had to order them to remain silent.

“Pendang with all due respect, I am asking you to (leave). Pendang is out for two days,” said Johari who then asked Rafizi to continue his winding up session.

Awang finally agreed and left the Dewan Rakyat.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BATU PAHAT, March 8 (Bernama) — Residents of Parit Yaani near here claim that the flood which struck last Saturday has further eroded a stretch of the Yong Peng-Muar trunk road, resulting in several crashes at the site.

After the flooded stretch was reopened to heavy vehicles on Sunday, a lorry transporting chickens overturned there yesterday and another lorry crashed this morning, said resident Hamrizal Hamdan, 40, a plumber.

He claimed that the stretch of road gets flooded often as it runs across a canal, and overflowing water from Sungai Segamat also strikes it.

“We are worried that the strong currents of the floods may result in undesirable incidents,” he told Bernama.

Another resident, who wished to be identified only as Pak Mat, 65, appealed to the Public Works Department to raise the level of the low-lying stretch.

“We face the same situation every time it rains. The government has to raise the road,” he said.

Floods struck the Parit Yaani area last Friday, causing thousands of people to be evacuated to relief centres.

A Bernama check showed strong-flowing floodwaters along that stretch of road and vehicles able to pass through only a single lane.

There was also traffic congestion on the eight-kilometre stretch of road from Bandar Putera Indah to the Parit Bilal Rural Clinic as several alternative roads were flooded.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, March 8 (Bernama) — The Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) will zero in on assisting Pitas, Kota Marudu and Tongod which are the three poorest districts as among the efforts to help Sabah.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor himself had urged KKDW to assist the three districts in terms of village development projects such as infrastructure and utilities.

Ahmad Zahid who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the effort to implement is being studied by KKDW with Sabah government in the technical committee between the two parties, chaired by Sabah State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong.

“We at KKDW will implement via discussion with the Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry to realise the intention of the state government to focus on the three districts and bring them out of the hardcore poor group in Sabah,” he said here today.

He was speaking at a media conference after attending a coordinating meeting between KKDW and the Sabah government for 2023 which was also attended by Hajiji.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said the technical committee of KKDW and the Sabah Government also played a role in trying to coordinate the allocation channeled to the state so that the allocation could be received as soon as possible and the projects involved are implemented effectively.

He said under Budget 2023 presented on February 24, Sabah would received various allocations, and coordination between KKDW and the Sabah Government was required to ensure that the projects involved ran smoothly.

“This coordination involves department heads in the ministry and Sabah agencies as well as on our side (KKDW), this is something which is conducted so that the implementation (of the project) can be felt by the people of Sabah as soon as possible,” he said.

He said apart from helping the three poorest districts and the coordination, the main item on food security was identified as the rice estate initiative which will be implemented in Sabah to ensure the staple food supply can be produced independently by the state for ‘local consumption’ while assisting to build ‘stockpile’ for contingency needs…Felcra (Felcra Berhad) has a modality for the implementation of this rice estate as carried out in Seberang Perak.

“The villagers are involved as shareholders in the estate by earning dividends and are also involved in employment as workers on the rice estate while housing areas are provided by Felcra for them so that there is a new economic development in the area,” he said.

In this regard, Ahmad Zahid said he is leaving it to Hajiji and the state government to announce the details of the rice estate initiative, including the areas involved, after the study into the matter has been completed.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency