Day: March 12, 2023

BATU KAWAN, The Penang South Islands (PSI) project will only be approved if it meets the stringent requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA), said Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He said the decision by the Department of Environment (DOE), which rejected the PSI’s EIA report previously proved that the project does not get special treatment although it has the backing of the Penang state government.

“The PSI project has undergone a comprehensive process in terms of the EIA report and taking into account the first EIA report that was approved on June 25, 2019 before an appeal was lodged and the EIA was cancelled, a new EIA was presented on April 29 last year.

“When the DOE did not agree with certain matters in that EIA, three more submissions were made, namely in August and October last year and the latest on Jan 18, whereby it is still under evaluation by the DOE,” he told reporters after officiating the Our Nature Carnival (Karnival Alam Kita) at the Batu Kawan Stadium, here, today.

He said the process is being carried out in a complete and detailed manner and the latest EIA report will be scrutinised by the DOE in the next few months before finalising if the PSI will be approved or not.

He said any matters arising would be presented to the project movers and Penang State Economic Planning Division.

“The developers must also provide the Environment Management Plan and take action against the recommendations stipulated in the EIA report should the project be approved to ensure the causes and effects of any project can be overcome,” he said.

The PSI project covers an area of almost 17 square kilometres involving the development of three artificial islands with an area of 1,700 hectares in the waters of Permatang Damar Laut near Bayan Lepas, but it received objections from the fishing community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the state, claiming that its implementation will damage the marine ecosystem in the waters concerned.

Meanwhile, commenting on the government’s decision to terminate the six flood mitigation projects (RTB) that had been approved via open tender, Nik Nazmi said this was to achieve lower prices through bids.

Previously, former Minister of Environment and Water Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had questioned the rationale for terminating the RTB that was announced as a cost-saving measure by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because the project that was terminated had yet to begin and some were still in the process of negotiation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA TINGGI, The government will expedite post-flood recovery efforts at the 17 affected schools in Johor, so that students can attend classes as usual for the 2023/2024 academic session, which is scheduled for March 19.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there will be coordination between the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the state Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), and other federal and state agencies.

It will ensure that the post-flood works can be carried out immediately, so that students can continue their school sessions in a more conducive environment, he said.

“For these 17 schools, most importantly, students can continue to study, even though the situation may not be very conducive, but we will try to get it resolved as soon as possible,” he said, at a press conference after a working visit to the Southeast Johor Development Board (KEJORA) at the KEJORA headquarters, Bandar Penawar, here today.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and State Secretary Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also the chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee, said this when asked to comment on the steps the government will take to help the 17 schools in Johor affected by the floods, following the opening of schools in the state on March 19.

On March 6, Education Minister, Fadhlina Sidek, announced that there will be no postponement of the 2023/2024 academic school session, scheduled for March 19 and 20, in the states affected by the floods.

Fadhlina was reported as saying that there were 17 schools badly affected by the floods in Johor, and Segamat was the worst, with 14 schools, while three schools were in other districts.

She also said that, if the work to repair schools affected by the floods could not be carried out before those dates, students would be given the option to attend classes via home-based teaching and learning (PdPR).

Meanwhile, in relation to the stagnant flood water in Batu Pahat, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said that the work of pumping water out of the flood-affected areas has already started.

“The pump works have already been carried out, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced a RM50 million grant for Johor to buy equipment, and the Menteri Besar has submitted a 300-page application (for allocation), and Insya-Allah we will address it one by one,” he said.

As of 12 noon today, JPBN announced that a total of 42,706 evacuees are still displaced by the floods in Johor, with Batu Pahat recording the highest number of evacuees at 39,944 people.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar granted an audience to Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil at Istana Bukit Serene here today.

According to a post on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page, the meeting, which lasted for over an hour, was also attended by Communications and Digital Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek.

During the meeting, the Johor Ruler also invited his guests for a light refreshment.

Earlier in the morning, Fahmi paid a courtesy call on Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi at his residence in Saujana here.

Fahmi is currently on a three-day working visit to Johor.

Yesterday, he visited the Iskandar Puteri Data Centre and Iskandar Malaysia Studios in Iskandar Puteri and inspected the operations of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Johor Bureau.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, The Kedah Zakat Board (LZNK) sent a total of 12,000 packets of rice, worth RM153,600, to Johor, to help those affected by the flood disaster which hit the state.

The donation, which was sent via two trailers, will be handed over to the Johor government through the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAIJ).

The Raja Muda of Kedah, Tengku Sarafudin Badlishah Sultan Sallehuddin, flagged off the convoy, which also comprised several other vehicles, at the Darul Aman Stadium grounds, here today. Also in attendance was the Raja Puan Muda of Kedah, Che Puan Muda Zaheeda Mohamad Ariff.

Tengku Sarafudin said that all parties, including corporate bodies, should join hands to help the flood-stricken state and ease the burden of the victims.

“Whichever state that is hit by disaster should be helped, much like Kelantan and Terengganu which experienced it earlier. We need to help ease their burden,” he said when met by reporters.

“It doesn’t matter in what form, as it can be financial, food, electrical items or house repair works,” he said.

Meanwhile, LZNK chief executive officer Datuk Syeikh Zakaria Othman said five corporate companies also contributed to the donation, namely 6,200 bottles of soy sauce and tomato sauce; 1,200 packets of coffee, 2,000 packets of instant noodles and 1,224 bottles of mineral water.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The number of flood victims at temporary relief centres (PPS) in Johor has risen again to 42,706, while the figure in Melaka dropped and the situation in Pahang and Sarawak was unchanged this afternoon.

In JOHOR, the number of evacuees rose to 42,706 from 42,638 recorded at 8 am today, after more victims were reported in Batu Pahat and Muar districts.

The Johor Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), in a statement, said 12,047 families were still taking shelter at 152 PPS in the four affected districts.

“Batu Pahat remains the worst-hit district with 39,944 evacuees, followed by Muar (1,476), Tangkak (949) and Segamat (337),” it said.

The water levels of four rivers in Batu Pahat were still above the danger mark, with Sungai Bekok at Bekok Dam registering 19.57 metres (m), Sungai Senggarang at Senggarang (3.59m), Sungai Simpang Kiri at Sri Medan (2.45m) and Sungai Simpang Kiri at Parit Sulong ( 2.01m), while Sungai Muar at Bukit Kepong in Muar was in a similar situation at 3.91m.

In MELAKA, the number of flood victims in Jasin dropped to 166 people from 36 families at 2 pm today, compared to 238 from 55 families at 8 am.

The Melaka JPBN Secretariat said in a statement that the victims were housed at three PPS.

“Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Mendapat has nine victims from one family, SK Parit Penghulu has 100 victims from 23 families and SK Batu Gajah has 57 victims from 12 families. The PPS at SK Sungai Rambai and SK Parit Gantong were closed at 9 am and 11 am respectively,” it said.

In PAHANG, the JPBN Secretariat reported that the number of evacuees in Rompin district was unchanged at 169 people in two PPS.

PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Aur is housing 62 victims from 24 families while 107 people from 35 families are at PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan Leban Chondong.

In SARAWAK, the JPBN Secretariat said the number of victims remained at 91 people from 18 families in Kuching, housed at PPS Dewan Sinaran Lumut and PPS Dewan Kampung Sungai Bedaun.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, Rural Capital Berhad (RCB), a subsidiary under MARA Corporation, has fulfilled its corporate social responsibility (CSR) by donating part of its zakat funds to the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) amounting to RM472,967 to help the asnaf (tithe recipients) group in the state.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) deputy director-general (entrepreneurship) Datuk Zulfikri Osman said of the total, RM23,539.76 was spent on house repairs for the asnaf, which was carried out by GiatMARA trainees, and RM5,000 was donated to Rumah Seri Kenanga in Kangar.

“The CSR programme aims to provide a place for asnaf children to continue their studies in any MARA educational institutions,” he said at the MARA and RCB’s Kayuhan Jalinan Kasih programme with the Raja Muda of Perlis here today.

The event, held in conjunction with the 57th MARA Day and RCB’s 10th anniversary, was graced by the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis Tuanku Hajjah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil.

Zulfikri said the RCB also organised several other programmes like the smart tutoring centre, the RCB sponsorship scheme and the back-to-school project for students from B40 families.

He said the RCB planned to set up a capital contribution programme for the asnaf group intending to start small businesses.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency