Author: malaysiang

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today congratulated and expressed his appreciation to the Malaysian Family after the country ranked 13th in the latest Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index.

In a post on his Facebook page, he said the achievement was the result of the hard work and spirit of unification of every member of the Malaysian Family in facing the COVID-19 pandemic together.

“Alhamdulillah, Malaysia scored 66.5 points in the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index which is the highest for ASEAN countries and ranked 13th out of 122 countries or regions.

“I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Malaysian Family, including our heroes, the #frontliners, who work hard to protect the people and the country from the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Ismail Sabri also called on the Malaysian Family to always maintain the family spirit and face the challenges in the recovery period together.

The Prime Minister also reminded the public to continue to take care of their safety, and that of their families as well as the communities despite the achievement.

Based on the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index as of Dec 31, 2021, Malaysia is ranked number 13 with a total score of 66.5, while Bahrain sits at the top with a total score of 82.0, with Chile second at 76.5 and Taiwan ranking third at 75.5.

According to its website, the Nikkei COVID-19 Recovery Index ranks about 120 countries or regions on infection management, vaccine rollouts and social mobility.

A higher ranking indicates a country or region is closer to recovery with its low numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases, better vaccination rates and less stringent social distancing measures.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — The number of flood victims who are still sheltering at Temporary Relief Centres (PPS) in Johor and Melaka this evening has dropped to 649 people compared to 720 this morning.

In Johor, the number of flood victims declined to 636 people as of 4 pm compared to 705 individuals this morning.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman, R. Vidyananthan said three districts, namely, Muar, Segamat and Tangkak were still affected by floods involving 17 PPS.

He said Muar recorded the highest number of victims with 321 people, followed by Segamat (303) and Tangkak (12).

“Nevertheless, the Sungai Muar Station at Bukit Kepong recorded a warning level after showing a falling trend.

“In addition, the weather statewide was reported to be fair including in the districts affected by floods,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, he said Jalan Felda Bukit Aping in Kota Tinggi is still closed to all vehicles following a landslide.

In Melaka, the Civil Defence Force (APM) director, Lt Col (MCDF) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the number of flood victims in Melaka had dropped to 13 victims from three families today at 4 pm.

He said that all the victims were housed at one PPS in Jasin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Jan 13 — More than five months of living in a dilapidated hut deep in a farm, the plight of a single mother and her two children caught the attention of the state government which took swift action by relocating them to a more comfortable home.

Syurnida Juliati Mohd Shah, 46, said she was desperate for a roof over her head when she lost her income during the movement restrictions and was not able to pay the monthly house rent of RM400.

She said as a mother, she was not willing to let her children live in poverty and even had to hand over her 12-year-old youngest child to be taken care by her uncle in Triang, Pahang.

“We have to soldier on with our lives, “ she said when met in Kampung Bukit Rambai here, today.

She said she did not expect her eldest son who helped flood victims in Krubong with Rakan Muda volunteers recently would bring about a better life for her family.

Syurnida said after a group of Rakan Muda volunteers visited their hut to deliver aid, her story went viral on social media since yesterday.

She said living in the hut, they were also exposed to the threat of poisonous animals such as pythons, lizards and others.

“We are grateful and thankful to all the parties who cared and helped us get a better temporary shelter to live in.

“It’s more comfortable and safe and it gives me the courage to change the fate of our family for the better,” she said.

Meanwhile, Melaka Chief Minister Community Affairs Department secretary Muhammad Ayyad Abdullah said the family was moved to a transit house at Pangsapuri Pokok Mangga without having to pay rent.

He added Surnida’s two children would also be given educational assistance apart from assistance from the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the Melaka Islamic Religious Council (MAIM).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 13 — A juvenile Green turtle was found dead believed to be due to plastic ingestion on Pantai Pulau Kerengga near Marang this morning.

Terengganu Fisheries Department director Ruzaidi Mamat said this was the fourth turtle death since Jan 3.

“Three previous deaths were of adult female Green turtles trapped in nets. The first case was found on Jan 3 at Pantai Penunjuk, near Kijal in Kemaman followed by the second case at Pantai Seberang Takir, Kuala Nerus yesterday,” he said when contacted here.

He said a third case was also reported yesterday at Chendering Port here.

According to Ruzaidi, 51 cases of turtle deaths were recorded by the department in 2021 and he advised the public to immediately contact the nearest District Fisheries Office or 03-88885019 if they find alive or dead turtles.

Meanwhile, the man who found the carcass of the turtle, Mohd Afendy Abd Aziz, 41, said he stumbled upon it while walking on the beach with his son.

“This is the first time I came across a turtle carcass and I didn’t know what to do, so, I took a video and photos before uploading them on Facebook. Soon after that, I was contacted by Fisheries Department officer who wanted detailed information about the turtle for further action,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 13 — The deployment of four Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) to the Eastern Fleet Command Headquarters here will strengthen security in Malaysian waters, especially in Sabah, said Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said the LMS played a role in thwarting threats, monitoring the area of operations, patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone, support tasks for military operations other than war as well as act as a support platform for tasks in peacetime, conflicts and war.

“The RMN will make the best use of (LMS capabilities) to further strengthen the level of security in Sabah’s waters. This includes increased patrols to tackle cross-border crime.

“These activities include the entry of illegal immigrants by sea as well as tackling piracy,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Kota Kinabalu RMN and listening to a briefing on ‘Operation Murni’ to prepare for floods at the 5th Division Headquarters, Lok Kawi Camp, here, today.

The three LMS – KD Keris, commissioned on Jan 6, 2020, KD Sundang (March 5, 2021) and KD Badik (Oct 22, 2021) – are under the command of the 11th LMS Squadron at the Kota Kinabalu RMN base.

Hishammuddin said the fourth LMS, ‘Rencong’ arrived at the base on Dec 28 last year and would join the squadron when it received its commissioning which has been scheduled for Jan 28, after which the vessel would be known as KD Rencong.

The procurement contract for the four vessels was signed between the Defence Ministry and Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd on March 23, 2017 with the collaboration with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co Ltd.

Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will continue to work closely with the Sabah government and relevant agencies through Operation Murni Sabah to ensure disaster preparedness will continue to be at the highest level.

“Since the first day of the floods in Sabah including in Kota Marudu, Paitan, Beluran, Sandakan and Telupid, MAF personnel have been deployed not only to help evacuate flood victims but also to send necessities and food as well as help prepare food at evacuation centers.

“A total of 385 personnel along with 50 assets from the Fifth Malaysian Infantry Brigade for the West Coast of Sabah and the 13th Malaysian Infantry Brigade for the East Coast of Sabah are being placed in a state of readiness to be deployed at any time in Sabah,” he added.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor, who was also present during the visit, said the Sabah government would like security assets in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) to be upgraded to ensure the level of security in that region was always at the highest level.

In a statement in conjunction with the visit, he said more border security posts also needs to be built, especially on the Sabah-Kalimantan border in preparation for the relocation of the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — The Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor, near here, will be mobilising over 1,000 volunteers in assisting Hindus celebrate Thaipusam this Jan 18 by ensuring compliance with the standard operating procedure (SOP) set by the government.

The temple committee’s honorary secretary, C. Sethupathy said that so far, over 500 volunteers comprising members of the public had registered as volunteers while the rest comprised the temple’s committee members and temple goers.

“These volunteers will assist in ensuring social distancing by the devotees and visitors, scanning of the MySejahtera QR code before entering the cave temple and adherence to the other SOP,” he added.

Sethupathy said this temple, also renowned for having the largest Lord Murugan statue in the world, with a height of 42.7 metres, was making the final preparations for the religious celebration by tightening the SOP and ensuring compliance in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

He said the temple committee was also handling the online registration for devotees who would be carrying the ‘paal koodam’ or milk pots so as to smoothen the procession during the celebration without any lax in adhering to the SOP set.

Thaipusam is celebrated by Hindus throughout the world in the month of ‘Thai’, the 10th month in the Tamil calendar to commemorate the incident in which Lord Murugan received the holy spear from his mother, Parvati to destroy the evil Soorapadman, and return peace and prosperity to mankind.

During the Thaipusam celebration, the Hindu devotees would fulfil their vows by carrying the ‘paal koodam’, considered the most sacred item, as well as the beautifully-decorated ‘kavadi’ up a flight of 272 steps to the cave temple.

Sethupathy said the Thaipusam celebration would start on Jan 16 with the silver chariot procession, carrying the idols of Lord Murugan and his two wives, goddesses Valli and Devi Theivanai from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee, here, to Batu Caves starting at 10 pm and the expected arrival at 10 am the next day.

The return procession from Batu Caves will start at 4 pm on Jan 9 and arrival at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple late at night the same day with both processions involving only 70 members of the temple’s management while members of the public are not allowed to attend.

Yesterday, National Unity Minister, Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique announced that carrying of the ‘paal koodam’, prayers and chariot procession would be allowed but without the kavadi for the Thaipusam celebration this time.

The SOP set for the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple, Batu Caves includes the number of visitors not exceeding 6,000 each day, a limit of 100 persons for the ‘paal koodam’ and 30 minutes for each prayer session followed by sanitation at the temple site.

In Malaysia, Thaipusam is also celebrated in big way at the Sri Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple located on a hill in Penang and Arul Subramaniar Temple, close to the Cheruh limestone hills in Ipoh, Perak.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SANDAKAN, Jan 13 — Pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sibugal Besar from Kampung Nelayan Tengah and Kampung Pampang near here will have to take about an hour to get to school if the suspension bridge at Sungai Batang is closed.

When met by Bernama, Nur Juwita Julianna Amson, 12 from Kampung Nelayan Tengah said she used to walk using the main road to commute to school and it took her twice the time compared to using the suspension bridge.

“It will only take me 30 minutes to get to school using the bridge.

“If the bridge is closed, I will have to ask my brother to send me to school and take me home later on a motorcycle. To walk to school is too far,” she said.

The Public Works Department (JKR) and the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) had ordered the suspension bridge to be closed effective yesterday due to its dilapidated condition as this could pose a danger to its users.

However, checks by Bernama today showed no closure notice was placed on the bridge and villagers, including school children, were still using it.

Meanwhile, SK Sibugal Besar Parents and Teachers Association (PIBG) vice-head Roslan Muksan said the school had raised the issue because the safety of pupils were compromised but the change of government in 2018 had caused repair works to be suspended.

”We are aware that the closure of the bridge will affect the schoolchildren who usually walk from Kampung Nelayan Tengah and Kampung Pampang, but this is all for their safety,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency