Author: malaysiang

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) is organising National Training Week (NTW) in June to inculcate a lifelong learning culture among Malaysians through free skills and knowledge development opportunities.

HRD Corp chief programmes officer Soffian Amin said the corporation, which is under the Ministry of Human Resources, is targeting at least 200,000 enrolments for the week from June 24 to 30.

“There are more than 30 million Malaysians but only about half have ready access to training opportunity.

“(For) NTW, we are looking at training to be offered for free throughout the week by government agencies, institutes, colleges, private training providers and even non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations,” he said when met at the HRD Corp Aidilfitri gathering here today.

Also present was Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

Soffian said almost 300 free courses are available now and the public can access the NTW portal to enrol at www.nationaltrainingweek
.gov.my.

He said HRD Corp expects 25,000 courses to be made available by the time NTW comes around, and the training will include face-to-face classes, online classes as well as e-learning content.

Introduced in May 2023, NTW is a full week of nationwide training events and activities that bring together organisations and individuals from various backgrounds and industries to experience a multitude of learning and development opportunities.

The free training sessions are offered by Malaysians for Malaysians in multiple locations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) through Bernama TV and Bernama Radio today received the Media Awards from the Ministry of Health’s Medical Device Authority (MDA) for the agency’s outstanding commitment to promoting medical device industry last year.

The awards were presented by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad at the 2023 MDA Excellence Service Awards (APC) and Media Awards in Putrajaya.

Bernama Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin received the award for Bernama TV while the head of TV and Radio Broadcasting Mohd Shukri Ishak received the award on behalf of Bernama Radio.

Dr Dzulkefly said the MDA Media Awards were introduced to appreciate the contribution of the media as an intermediary medium with the people and to help MDA raise public awareness of the importance of safe medical devices.

‘Congratulations to the winners and thank you to the entire media community for your service,’ he said at the 2023 MDA APC and Media Awards ceremony.

Meanwhile,
Nur-ul Afida said Bernama will continue to produce reports and programmes to facilitate the Ministry of Health in general and MDA in particular, about health awareness that benefits the people.

‘Bernama is happy to have been chosen to win two MDA Media Awards through Bernama TV and Bernama Radio.

‘I believe this victory is due to the input and support of Bernama through programmes and reports related to the medical device industry in Malaysia,’ she said.

Mohd Shukri said Bernama TV and Bernama Radio will continue to commit and work closely with the Ministry of Health and MDA in delivering the latest health information to improve people’s well-being.

‘At Bernama TV and Radio, via broadcast of current programmes and news, we always provide space to the Ministry of Health. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to MDA and the Ministry of Health for the Media Awards to Bernama TV and Radio, a great appreciation for the broadcasting commitment,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: May 3 — Stern action will be taken against retailers, distributors and importers of products with labels discriminating against palm oil, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

He said those found guilty could be fined up to RM250,000 under the Trade Descriptions (Prohibition of Use of Statement, Expression or Indication) (Oil Palm Product and Palm Oil Goods) Regulations 2022.

“After this, we will also inform the Royal Malaysian Customs Department to prevent anyone found carrying products with discriminatory labels against oil palm from entering the country.

‘If customs does not have specific structures, we will use the act and write a letter to customs to inform them that it cannot be done,” he told a media conference at Menara Dato Onn today.

According to him, as the world’s second-largest palm oil producer, Malaysia does not allow anyone in the course of trade, business or advertising to use any statement that may discriminate against or boycott any of th
e country’s palm oil products.

‘They can sell the product but why do you need to bring a packaging specifically mentioning No Palm Oil?

“Therefore, we take this matter seriously. We want our commodity to be respected like the soy oil, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil produced by other countries,” he said.

This warning came following a raid conducted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry on a convenience store in Putrajaya yesterday suspected of selling food products labelled ‘No Palm Oil’ on the packaging.

The raiding team seized ice cream products with the ‘No Palm Oil’ statement, worth RM897.60, for further investigation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM: The majority of family members and next of kin involved in the process of moving 90 graves in the Klang Strait Muslim Cemetery agreed with the decision to exhume and relocate the graves, said Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

He said that currently the state government through the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) and the local authorities (PBT) are focusing on obtaining an agreement with the remaining next of kin to allow the construction of the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project in the area to continue as planned.

“We will continue discussions with the parties involved because the majority have agreed.

‘For the next of kin who have not agreed, we will give another week to discuss with JAIS, PBT and ECRL,” he said at a press conference at Bangunan Wisma Dewan Negeri Selangor here today.

He was commenting on press reports that there were next of kin and family members who remained opposed to the digging and moving of the graves after holding a meeting with JAIS on We
dnesday.

Prior to that, Amirudin on Tuesday announced that the work of digging and moving the graves which was scheduled for Wednesday (May 1) has been postponed for another week, among other things to carry out the notification and hearing for the other 45 next of kin of the graves.

In other developments, Amirudin said the state government is targeting the presence of 30,000 visitors from home and abroad to the Turath Islami Festival which will be held at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque on May 26 until June 2, 2024.

He said the festival, which will enter its second year, aims to revive and spread the Islamic heritage in Selangor and will be attended by two prominent scholars of the world, the former Grand Mufti of Egypt Maulana Al-Imam Dr Ali Jum’ah and Habib Umar Hafiz.

“With the presence of the two prominent scholars of the world as well as 23 great scholars from regional countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, we are confident that the number of visitors will trip
le compared to around 10,000 last year.

“The organisation of this second festival is a sign of the commitment of the Selangor state government to spread and revive the Islamic heritage,” he said.

Amirudin said the festival will be filled with 12 main events including the study of the Forty Hadith book written by Imam Nawawi which will be led by Al-Imam Dr Ali Jum’ah as well as an international seminar on the book Riyadhu al-Solihin.

People interested in participating in the festival are asked to register from today through the website www.turathislamiselangor.com.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN: China Southern Airlines plans to double its weekly flights from Guangzhou, China to Penang, increasing from seven to 14, starting June 20.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said this increase will boost Penang’s tourism industry and enhance trade between China and Malaysia.

“Currently, five airlines fly from China to Penang. China Southern Airlines operates seven weekly flights from Guangzhou, which will double to twice daily from June 20. Additionally, Xiamen Airlines serves flights from Xiamen.

‘Batik Air offers special flights from Haikou, and both Cathay Pacific and Air Asia operate four flights per week from Hong Kong. Direct flights from Shanghai by Juneyao Airlines will commence four times a week starting May 31,” he told reporters when met at the PWGS Trade Fair at Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas near here today.

Wong anticipates a significant increase in tourist arrivals from China, adding that the state government has made necessary prep
arations, including offering various tourism products.

“According to our records, Penang has welcomed 22,420 tourists from China in the first three months of this year, a 370.22 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period last year which saw only 4,768 tourists,” he said.

He added that the 30-day visa exemption for Chinese nationals visiting Malaysia since Dec 1 last year, has been a key factor in the increase in the number of tourists from China, as part of the 50-year strategic cooperation between Malaysia and China.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will hold roadshows nationwide to provide information on the Housewives’ Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) to company employees and women from the B40 group.

Socso Committee on the SKSSR chairman Kasthuri Patto said that the first seven sessions (May 6,7 and 13, July 2, 12 18 and 23) will be held at Wisma Perkeso, Kuala Lumpur and will involve private sector employers, statutory bodies, government-linked companies, non-governmental organisations and other institutions.

She said that the roadshows are being implemented following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Socso and Yayasan Kebajikan Negara Malaysia (YKNM) on March 14, regarding income tax exemption under Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967.

She added that the roadshows are expected to provide a better understanding of more comprehensive social protection through SKSSR specifically for female workers and wives of workers with a tax exemption for the B40, or M40 women cat
egory.

‘The roadshow will also be extended to Socso offices nationwide to ensure comprehensive awareness and understanding of this initiative,’ she said in a press conference today.

Thus far, she said that 10 companies have participated in the tax exemption initiative for SKSSR contributions including Malayan Banking Berhad, Berjaya Corporation Berhad, Sime Darby Property and Lembaga Tabung Haji amounting to RM558,360 and benefiting 4,864 women in the B40 group.

She also said that as of April 21, a total of 253,794 women had contributed under the SKSSR and the cumulative amount of claims and interest payments to contributors from Jan 1, 2023, to April 15 this year was RM1,596,324.66.

She said the payment of benefits included permanent disability as many as 75 claims amounting to RM72,000; illness allowance (43 claims amounting to RM74,402.12); funeral benefits (441 claims amounting to RM824,214.55) and survivors’ pension (322 claims amounting to RM603,887.59)

Currently, Sarawak recorded the highest numbe
r of SKSSR registrations at 56,128, followed by Sabah (49,780), Selangor (16,867), Johor (16,588), Terengganu (16,348), Kelantan (15,489), Perak (15,397) and Penang (13,953), she said.

Kedah recorded 13,855 registrations, Negeri Sembilan (11,161), Pahang (9,154), Melaka (8,056) and Perlis (3,725) while the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan recorded 7,293 registrations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Zahidi Wan Teh said accusing any party of insulting Islam must be proven before considering a boycott.

He said one of the crucial elements in criminal behaviour is intent or “alqasdul jinaei” (criminal intent).

‘This element cannot be proven through ‘syahadah’ (direct evidence). It can only be proven through confession or through ‘qarainul ahwal’ (circumstantial evidence).

‘Therefore, based on Islamic judicial principles, the accusation of insulting Islam (directed at the management of KK Mart) has not been proven,” he told a press conference at his office here today.

On March 13, an issue regarding the sale of stockings bearing the word ‘Allah’ at a KK Mart branch in Petaling Jaya went viral on social media after a user uploaded a photo of the product.

Subsequently, certain groups urged Muslims to boycott the convenience store chain.

KK Mart’s management later apologised for selling the Miranosock brand stockings bearing the word ‘Allah’ at various branches of the conv
enience store.

Wan Zahidi stressed that boycotting a specific community is inconsistent with Islamic teachings and the ‘sunnah’ (traditions and practices) of Prophet Muhammad SAW.

He pointed out that Prophet Muhammad SAW never boycotted the Quraysh tribe despite them opposing Islam.

When asked if his statement might cause controversy, Wan Zahidi stated that he is simply conveying his beliefs based on Islamic teachings.

‘Whether it sparks controversy or not is up to individuals. We follow the teachings of Allah and Prophet Muhammad SAW; I am convinced and obligated to convey this,’ he said, noting that issuing the statement took considerable time due to the need for thorough research and references on the matter.

Wan Zahidi also stressed that Islamic outreach requires a peaceful atmosphere and harmonious relationships among communities of diverse religions.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency