Author: malaysiang

LUMUT, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof expressed hope that there would be no speculation surrounding the mid-air collision and crash involving two helicopters at the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) base here today.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, urged all parties to show respect to the families of the victims by refraining from sharing any sensitive videos or images to safeguard the sensitivities of those affected by the incident.

‘Regardless of the cause, let’s avoid speculation. That’s my sincere hope. I urge both the media and the public not to engage in speculation. Let’s allow the police and military to conduct their investigations, and we’ll await their full report.

‘They were involved in a training exercise… When accidents occur, let’s acknowledge them as such, and let’s await the findings of the authorities’ investigations,’ he told newsmen after visiting the families of the victims and the site of the incident today.

Earlier, TLDM confirmed
the loss of 10 of its personnel in the incident, which happened at 9.32 am, involving seven crew members of the Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM-AW139) and three crew members of the TLDM Fennec.

It is understood that the incident took place during fly-past training in conjunction with TLDM’s 90th anniversary scheduled early next month.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GENEVA: A new oral vaccine for cholera has received prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The inactivated oral vaccine Euvichol-S has a similar efficacy to existing vaccines but a simplified formulation, allowing opportunities to rapidly increase production capacity.

‘The new vaccine is the third product of the same family of vaccines we have for cholera in our WHO prequalification list,’ Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, director of the WHO Department for Regulation and Prequalification, said.

‘The new prequalification is hoped to enable a rapid increase in production and supply which many communities battling with cholera outbreaks urgently need,’ he said.

WHO prequalification list already includes Euvichol and Euvichol-Plus inactivated oral cholera vaccines produced by EuBiologicals Co., Ltd, Republic of Korea, which also produces the new vaccine Euvichol-S.

Vaccines provide the fastest intervention to prevent, limit and control cholera outbreaks, but supplies have been at the lowest point amidst
countries facing dire shortcomings in other areas of cholera prevention and management such as safe water, hygiene and sanitation.

There were 473,000 cholera cases reported to WHO in 2022 — double the number from 2021. Further increase of cases by 700,000 was estimated for 2023.

Currently, 23 countries are reporting cholera outbreaks with most severe impacts seen in the Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Somalia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Source: Philippines News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) urges selected goods transport vehicle companies in Peninsular Malaysia to immediately apply for a fleet card to ensure they enjoy the benefits when the government implements a re-targeting of diesel subsidy later.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the implementation of subsidised diesel under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) 2.0 involves nine types of vehicles in the land transport sector of goods, namely general cargo lorries, bottled drinks lorries, refrigerated lorries, luton lorries (box vans for delivery), flour tankers, water tankers, panel vans, window vans and prime movers.

He said the companies involved are expected to file in applications by April 30 at the latest.

“That (April 30) is not a closing date, there is no closing date as long as it has not been announced when the implementation date (targeting of diesel subsidies) will be. However, to ensure that these types of vehicles
are ready, we urge you to promote and apply by April 30 at the latest.

“It is to ensure that whenever the government announces the implementation date, at least nine types of goods transportation (companies) already have a fleet card,” he said after attending an engagement session with the Transport Industry and Oil Supply Companies here today.

Armizan said the engagement session was done to enlist the cooperation of land transport association members to speed up their fleet card applications with selected oil companies.

“The associations related to the land transport sector of goods (who are) present today, they gave a commitment to make announcements to help us promote, explain and encourage their association members to apply through the MySubsidi Diesel system and after receiving the approval, to continue with an application for a fleet card to the oil supplier company immediately.

“In the discussion earlier, we also agreed to consider an appeal, if previously the goods companies were limited to having
the option of two oil supplier companies, we have decided on the appeal, we will give an additional option which is you can choose three out of five oil supplier companies,” he said, adding that that the oil supply companies involved are Petronas, Shell, Petron, Caltex and BHP.

In the meantime, Armizan said there are companies already registered with the MySubsidi Diesel System and given approval, but which have not applied for a fleet card with an oil supplier company.

“They have already received approval but have not applied for a fleet card, they are waiting to see how much quota they can get and wait for the announcement on its implementation.

“We have also instructed the oil supply companies to be ready and add to their fleet card orders, because I think our government is very concerned that those who will benefit from this will exceed our initial estimate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Armizan said the government’s move to implement SKDS 2.0 aims to minimise the issue of widespread leakage and smuggling.

He
revealed that there are companies and gas stations that are being threatened by certain syndicates to sell diesel to them in excess of the set quota.

“There are also some gas stations that choose not to make a report because they are (intimidated), concerned about their own safety, their employees and their premises.

“So we can’t allow this to happen, that’s why we manage that risk in addition to physical enforcement, we manage the risk of smuggling by not giving bulk subsidies at gas stations,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TACLOBAN: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil on Tuesday said they are doing their best to arrest fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

Speaking to reporters during his brief visit at the Police Regional Office 8 headquarters in Palo, Leyte, Marbil said they have been helping the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the lead agency in the manhunt, find the location of Quiboloy.

“We have a strategy to locate him. We are closing in, and we are very diplomatic about it,” he said, discounting Senator Risa Hontiveros’ statement that the police are slow in implementing warrants of arrest against Quiboloy.

Quiboloy is facing qualified human trafficking and child sexual abuse charges.

PRO-8 is the first PNP regional headquarters visited by Marbil since his appointment as PNP chief on April 1, 2024.

Marbil was the PRO-8 regional director from 2022 to 2023, where he initiated the deployment of police officers to the region’s Maharlika Highway to prevent crimes.

“Our troops here reall
y helped me to become one of the best,” he added.

During his visit, Marbil led the inauguration of some structures inside the regional office compound, which was started during his stint as regional chief here.

Source: Philippines News Agency

LABUAN, The 28th Labuan International Sea Challenge (LISC) kicked off today with the highly anticipated LISC Daiwa Fishing Tournament.

Participants from various corners of Malaysia and neighbouring countries descended upon Labuan to partake in the exhilarating event promising unforgettable fishing experiences.

Labuan Corporation (LC) chief executive officer Rithuan Ismail said the number of participants was still encouraging, despite a slight decline compared to last year’s 213 participants.

“The LISC Daiwa Fishing Tournament is one of the crowning jewels of this year’s challenge, and the encouraging number of participants reflects the excitement surrounding it,” he told Bernama after the flag off at the Labuan Public Marina here today.

He said with a total of 184 participants from Malaysia’s diverse states, and from Hong Kong, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Guangdong (China), and Indonesia, the event showcases the international appeal of Labuan as a prime destination for sea enthusiasts.

Rit
huan said the main fishing fields are set at the Spratly Islands and Layang-Layang Island, promising both seasoned anglers and newcomers an opportunity to engage in thrilling fishing endeavours.

Highlighting the diverse array of activities, Rithuan Ismail emphasised that this year’s LISC boasts 17 exhilarating programmes, offering a total prize pool of RM278,390.

‘The Labuan Round-Island Kayak Challenge and the LISC Daiwa Fishing Tournament stand out as the main crowd-pullers, with a combined prize worth RM126,300,’ he said.

Anticipating a significant turnout of at least 30,000 visitors to Labuan throughout the event, Rithuan underlined the region’s appeal as a vibrant hub for maritime sports and recreation.

The grand finale of the 28th edition of LISC, scheduled for April 28, will be officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr. Zaliha Mustafa.

‘It promises to be a fitting culmination to a week-long celebration of the sea, sport, and camaraderie,’ Rithuan said.

S
ource: BERNAMA News Agency

ILOILO: Around 281 drivers and operators from two transport cooperatives in Iloilo will get over PHP8.4 million worth of livelihood projects under the integrated livelihood program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The Molo Transport Service Cooperative will receive PHP1.378 million worth of projects for its 46 members while the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative (WVTC), PHP7.036 million for its 235 members.

The assistance will be released on May 1 in time for Labor Day celebration.

‘These are individual projects at PHP30,000 each. It’s the fourth project granted by the government for our transport sector affected by the modernization program,’ DOLE Iloilo officer-in-charge Amy Judicpa said in an interview on Tuesday.

She added that the recipients are endorsed either by the transport cooperative or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

WVTC president Raymundo ‘Boyet’ Parcon, in a separate interview, said some of the beneficiaries are engaged in sari-sari stores and
rice retailing projects.

‘It is a big help for our displaced members,’ he said.

Judicpa said they would release 11 projects under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) to transport groups, workers groups, cooperatives, and local government units as beneficiaries or accredited co-partners.

‘We will also release a check for indigenous people affected by the construction of the Jalaur River Mega Dam, more than PHP4 million for 135 IPs in Calinog,’ she said.

The recipients are from Barangays Alibunan, Agcalaga, Toyungan, Binolosan, Pequeño, Cahigon, Guinbonyugan, Garangan, and Masaroy who will embark on projects like native chicken meat and egg production, broiler chicken egg production, mallard duck meat and egg production, among others.

Other beneficiaries of livelihood projects are parents of child laborers, an employee union, and other marginal sectors.

Source: Philippines News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia (SKM) has approved assistance totalling RM246,000 through the Supply Chain Empowerment For Co-Operatives (SCOPE) to Federasi Koperasi Pemborongan dan Peruncitan Malaysia Berhad.

Deputy Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk R. Ramanan said the aid includes the purchase of a 7.5-tonne lorry costing RM151,000 to facilitate the delivery of essential goods to the chain of distribution centres and Coop Marts in Peninsular Malaysia.

“This encouragement will hopefully help the government and the people in facing the challenges of the rising cost of living through total control of the supply chain through the cooperative movement by offering more affordable prices for daily necessities from time to time,’ he said at the Aidilfitri Open House event at the SKM headquarters here today.

Ramanan also presented the lorry to the federation as an effort to strengthen the role of the federation as the main distribution centre.

Also present were Entre
preneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry (KUSKOP) secretary-general (Policy and Monitoring) Noor Afifah Abdul Razak, SKM chairman Lt Gen (Rtd) Datuk Ahmad Norihan Jalal and heads of agencies under KUSKOP as well as the cooperative movement.

At the event, Ramanan also launched the Oh! Gitu… podcast, which is an interactive chat platform that will analyse questions related to the cooperative ecosystem or current issues that are happening in the cooperative movement.

The podcast will start broadcasting on May 10 regularly on SKM social media platforms.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency