Author: malaysiang

Regular inspections at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex in the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI) here and the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Iskandar Puteri are not meant to find fault with any party.

Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said instead, he wanted to help address the problems plaguing these places and ensure that the people get to enjoy the services at both entry and exit points safely and conveniently.

“The problems at the CIQ are not something that happened in the last one or two years but a legacy issue. (Therefore,) we intend to tackle the issue.

“I took the opportunity to go down to the ground and personally witness the situation, and I have worked closely with the Immigration Department and Home Ministry to find a solution,” he said when officiating the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) at the Arulmigu Rajamariamman Devasthanam Temple, here tonight.

Onn Hafiz was reported to have made a number of surprise visits to the CIQ BSI and KSAB over the last few weeks.

Earlier at the launch of the IHC, the Menteri Besar also announced a RM1 million allocation to the 112-year-old temple.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The final preparations for tomorrow’s historic Unity Government National Convention at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur went well this evening, according to Unity Government Secretariat chief Datuk Seri Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki

He said preparations were at 95 per cent, thanks to the commitment of representatives from the Unity Government parties since the last two weeks.

“Their high commitment in the last two weeks have ensured the work and preparation for the convention have been done well, and everything will run smoothly tomorrow.

“Overall, we expect over 10,000 political party delegates and leaders, and we even welcome supporters of the Unity Government and the public to come together to witness this historic moment,” he told reporters after the convention rehearsal at Dewan Merdeka WTCKL today.

The convention, which will be held for the very first time, will begin with the Unity Government Women’s National Convention and the Unity Government Pemuda Puteri National Convention, held simultaneously tomorrow morning.

Then at 2 pm, the convention will continue with three Bicara Rakyat sessions by Unity Government party leaders, who will discuss commitments to resolve public issues, including the economy, the building of the country and its people, along with the MADANI concept in the implementation of public agenda.

The highlight of the convention, themed ‘MADANI: Mewajahi Masa Depan Malaysia’ will kick off at 3.30 pm with a keynote address by the Unity Government Secretariat Chairman, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Philippines targets to enhance its participation in the electronics and electric global value chain, specifically on wafer technology and research and development, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Saturday. DTI Assistant Secretary Allan Gepty said the electronics industry, which specializes in manufacturing assembly, testing, packaging and distribution, already contributes a huge chunk to the country’s exports. ‘[A]ng partisipasyon natin diyan ay unang-una sa pag-assemble halimbawa ng mga electronic product at iyong tinatawag nating testing (Our participation there is in the assembly for example of electronic products and what we call testing),’ he said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. ‘Sa value chain, mayroon dalawang aspeto na tina-target natin — iyong research and development and then iyong tinatawag nilang production ng wafer technology (In this value chain, we are targeting two other aspects — research and development and what they call production of wafer technology),’ he added. Gepty said capturing the two additional stages in the value chain would further boost the country’s sector. ‘Malaking bagay iyan sa ating electronic industry kasi unang-una po ay nakapag-establish tayo ng niche nga in that particular sector (It would be great for the electronic industry because we already established a niche in that particular sector),’ he said. The said global value chain is primarily composed of raw materials, electronic and electrical components (semiconductor wafers, bare circuit boards, etc.), subassemblies, and final products. It also includes activities that add value to the final products such as research and development, circuitry design, and software integration, among others. Gepty said DTI will continue to encourage the establishment of manufacturing and assembly for final products. ‘[K]asi kapag final products, siyempre iyong value mas mataas. So, ayaw po natin na kumbaga sa ano, (Of course if we supply final products, the value is higher. We don’t want to be limited) to just the supply of components or elements of certain high technology products,’ he said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

National athletes will be among the participants in the second Persons with Disabilities (PWD) fun run at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City on May 28. The “PWDe Run for Fun,” co-organized by the non-profit organization Boundless Possibilities Foundation, Inc. (BPFI) and UP Supporting PWDs in Exercise and Recreation (UP SUPER), aims to raise funds for the ‘Gentle Giants’ livelihood and training program. The distances are 2, 5, and 10 km. Jerome Nelmida and Joshua Nelmida (visually impaired), Edison Badillo and Jake Lacaba (leg amputees), and Raul Angoluan (arm amputee) are among the national para-triathlon members who will join the race, along with their guides. The BPFI was established by parents to prepare their neurodiverse children and others with similar conditions for adulthood. Medical experts said neurodivergents learn and behave differently because of their atypical brain processes. ‘The fun run aims to promote diversity and inclusivity, as well as (a) healthy lifestyle among neurodivergents who tend to be on the heavy side as they age out of school and become sedentary,’ BPFI chair Jo Palomares said in a statement. The organizers are urging all PWDs and their families to join or simply support the activity. The fun run will start and finish in front of Palma Hall. Assembly time is 5 a.m. The deadline for registration is on May 20. For inquiries, send an email to pwderunforfun@gmail.com or text 0929-2899032. Even non-PWD can join while sponsors are welcome to pay for the registration fees of PWD runners – PHP400 (2 km.), PHP480 (5 km.), and PHP640 (10 km.). “PWD Fun Run: PWeDe Pala, Heto Kami, Join Kayo,” the event’s first edition, was held on May 26, 2019, also in UP Diliman, before the pandemic struck.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Bureau of Immigration (BI) chief Norman Tansingco has assured the public that the agency would answer all queries and complaints quickly as he ordered the implementation of the revised manual feedback forms for all its offices nationwide. In a press release issued on Saturday, Tansingco said improving the feedback mechanism would help the agency address immediately all concerns and complaints against the office and its staff. At the same time, Tansingco issued a memorandum reiterating the existing policy on the proper wearing of nameplates and identification cards. ‘These feedback forms would allow the BI to see areas for improvement, so we can study how to make things better,’ he said. Tansingco said aside from complaints, they would also like some feedback on their processes that work well. ‘Apart from complaints, of course, we would also appreciate receiving comments on processes that we are doing well, so we can continue doing them,’ he added. Tansingco was responding to a social media post regarding a passenger complaint on the lack of accessible feedback mechanisms for the bureau, as well as her difficulty in securing the names of the immigration officers she had spoken to. He ordered all BI offices to ensure that feedback forms are readily available and placed in highly visible areas. All employees should also wear their IDs and nameplates at all times for easier identification, he added. Tansingco also directed all immigration supervisors at the country’s ports to report any violation to his office, warning that non-compliance would warrant strict disciplinary action.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Daniel Penny, a 24-year-old US Marine Corps veteran who killed a homeless Black man last week in a chokehold at a subway station in New York, will be charged with second-degree manslaughter and is expected to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Friday. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Penny will be arraigned on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Jordan Neely. ‘Daniel Penny will be arrested on a charge of manslaughter in the second degree,’ the statement said. ‘We cannot provide any additional information until he has been arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court, which we expect to take place tomorrow.’ Penny, who is from Queens, killed Neely by placing him in a lethal chokehold on May 1. Penny’s subsequent release after being initially detained sparked outrage and has led to a series of ongoing protests.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The situation in Taiwan remains normal and measures are in place to protect the estimated 160,000 Filipinos on the island, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said Saturday. Amid tensions and recent developments over the Taiwan Strait, MECO chief Silvestre Bello III said he believes a possible confrontation between Taipei and Beijing is ‘very remote.’ ‘In Taiwan, everything is normal and, if in the remote possibility na magkaroon ng (that there would be an) emergency situation, like for example earthquake or even war, preparado ang Taiwan government (the Taiwan government is prepared) not only in protecting their own people but even the Filipinos, especially our workers,’ Bello said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. He said he recently met with representatives of Taiwan’s National Police Agency and Civil Defense Office and both agencies assured the protection and welfare of Filipinos. Bello said about 89,000 shelters are spread across the island that could accommodate more than Taiwan’s total population of 23 million, including Filipinos. ‘In addition to the shelter provided by the Taiwanese government, lahat ng mga (all) factory have their own shelters for their workers – ganoon kahanda ang Taiwan (Taiwan is that prepared),’ he said. ‘Hontiveros trip’ Bello also mentioned the recent Taiwan trip of Senator Risa Hontiveros, who met with Filipino workers. ‘Whether this is official or private, it does not really matter. China does not really mind iyong mga (the) elected officials going there, ang inaano nila iyong mga executive officers (China does not really mind elected officials going there, only those who are executive officers),’ he said. ‘I was informed that she was also invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which resulted in her meeting with the Taiwanese President, naka-meet niya si (she was able to meet with) Taiwanese President Tsai (Ing-wen).’ In a press release issued by her office, Hontiveros called for increased interaction with Taiwan, citing the similar challenges it shares with Manila, among them cybersecurity and climate change. Beijing had previously criticized Tsai’s meeting with United States lawmakers that prompted the deployment of warships and fighter jets around the island for military drills. The Philippines, like the US, adheres to the one-China policy.

Source: Philippines News Agency