Author: web Desk

IPOH, Jan 24 (Bernama) — The Perak state government has shut down 27 of its subsidiaries identified as non-performing and burdensome to save costs.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said Perbadanan Kemajuan Perak (PKNP) subsidiaries affected by the closure were, among others, not carrying out business activities and not contributing to the state government.

“We found that they were not performing, had no business and were not able to give back to the government and even burdened the parent company which had to take the responsibility of paying salaries and so on,” he told reporters after the inauguration and opening ceremony of the Piccadilly@Greentown project by Raja DiHilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah here today.

He said the state government targeted to gradually achieve a total contribution of RM100 million from all government-linked companies (GLCs) by 2030, adding that all relevant GLCs must carry out thorough planning on every development and project given by the government to make a profit.

Asked about several abandoned housing projects in Perak, Saarani said he had asked state Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Sandrea Ng Shy Ching to work with the Ministry of Local Government Development to address the matter.

“At the Perak Housing and Property Board meeting, it was mentioned that several companies’ projects were halted due to the Movement Control Order and they faced excessive price hikes for construction materials when they resumed work on-site, as well as workers issues,” he said.

Earlier, in his speech, Saarani said the Piccadilly@Greentown project was a systematic sustainable housing and business development with complete infrastructure and quality facilities in the state.

He said the project could support the objectives of the Prosperous Perak 2030 Plan, contributing to the formation of a prosperous and livable community that is in line with the state government’s commitment to take a holistic approach to support the property sector.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — Malaysians who are charged over RM15,000 by agents to obtain an Indonesian domestic helper have been urged to lodge a report to the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI).

Its Consul General in Johor Bahru, Sigit S. Widiyanto, said this is following complaints that there were agents who still charged beyond the maximum limit of RM15,000 per worker set through the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the recruitment and protection of Indonesian domestic helpers signed by both countries last year.

“We still receive complaints that some agents charged them up to RM20,000, RM28,000 and RM30,000. So please make a report to the consulate general’s office so that we can prevent this from happening again.”

He told reporters this after a meet and greet session with Johor Media Club here today, which was attended by about 30 media practitioners and KJRI officials.

Elaborating, Sigit said the MoU, which was signed in April last year, aims to protect both foreign workers and employers.

“Since the document was signed, around 1,000 applications to obtain Indonesian domestic helpers have been made so far, and the number is expected to increase based on current demand,” he added.

In another development, Sigit urged Indonesians in this country without a valid permit to take advantage of the Labour Recalibration Programme 2.0 (RTK 2.0), which has been extended till year-end.

“We admit that some employers in this country may offer jobs to Indonesians illegally. Many Indonesians also enter Malaysia using tourist visas but do not return after the 30-day period expires.

“So with the RTK 2.0 implemented by the Malaysian government, we call on employers and Indonesians without valid work permits to submit their applications to obtain the necessary documents,” he said.

Early this month, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government agreed to extend the RTK 2.0, where illegal foreign workers in the country are given the option to return home or continue working by registering with a certain fee.

As of Dec 31 last year, a total of 418,649 foreign workers have registered under the RTK, and 295,425 others were sent back to their home countries.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — The number of flood victims in Johor has increased to 1,093 as of 4 pm today compared to 422 victims recorded at 2 pm, following continuous heavy rain since early this morning.

The state Disaster Management Committee (PPBN) said five additional relief centres (PPS) have just been opened, making it a total of 13 PPS in the districts of Kluang, Segamat and Kota Tinggi.

“Segamat is the worst-hit district with 975 victims from 273 families that have been evacuated to eight PPS. In the Kluang district, a total of 75 people from 10 families were moved to four PPS whereas 43 residents from six families in the Kota Tinggi district were evacuated to a relief centre,” said the committee in a statement today.

According to the committee, currently there are no roads in the state that are closed to traffic.

Based on data from the Irrigation and Drainage Department, four rivers in Johor have passed the dangerous level with an upward trend, namely Sungai Muar (the river mouth of Sungai Gemas) which is at a level of 19.04 metres (m), Sungai Lenik (Ladang Chaah) at a level of 6.4 m, Sungai Segamat (Segamat Kecil) at a level of 37.97 m, and Sungai Kahang (Kampung Contoh) at a level of 14.41 m.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) — The Education Ministry today shared its commitments and visions pertinent to transformative education as a path towards a more equitable, inclusive, relevant and resilient educational system.

Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, in a video message in conjunction with the International Day of Education 2023, said the ministry aimed for multi-sectoral investments and to render more significant assistance to early learning and childhood development.

“In doing so, we prioritise evidence collecting, predictive data analysis on student learning loss and early warning data systems to develop and implement targeted interventions and reduce the possibility of students dropping out.

“… as well as ensuring the issue of poverty that has a direct impact on children’s education can be addressed accordingly. The efforts are derived from well-coordinated communications among all stakeholders, including schools in the country,” she said.

Fadhlina, who is also president of the Malaysian National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said the ministry also focuses on the aspect of Karamah Insaniah or Human Dignity by emphasising soft skills to inculcate good manners, morals and integrity among students.

She said the ministry continues to develop and upgrade the ICT infostructure and infrastructure at all schools as strengthening the digital education policy framework remains second to none.

“However, we are mindful of the digital divide when planning for digital education, especially for vulnerable students such as children from disadvantaged, low-income families and those in remote areas. Hence, their learning must be well-facilitated to reduce the equity gaps and avoid being left behind in the education system,” she added.

The minister said future education requires teachers and students to be equipped with digital literacy and competencies to prepare them with a futureproof education.

In this regard, she said it is imperative to forge collaborations with technology service providers and international bodies to enhance their digital competency.

Besides that, Fadhlina said that in 2013, the Education Ministry introduced the Malaysia Education Blueprint, which outlines a 12-year roadmap and comprehensive framework for a sustainable transformation of the education system.

Moving forward, the ministry urges for global commitments and level up social cohesion in building forward differently to accelerate the fourth United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for quality education (SDG4-Education 2030) with a strong focus given on young people, to prioritise investments in the core components of education, and to ensure that no child is left behind.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEGAMAT, Jan 24 (Bernama) — A contractor from Kampung Sungai Gatom here has been using his tractor to rescue flood victims and transport them to temporary flood relief centres (PPS) since 2018.

Roslan Ahmad, 48, is known for his kindness among the villagers as he also provides a free van for funeral services in addition to taking care of foster children.

He said it all started when he used his tractor to rescue his neighbours who were trapped in waist-level floodwater during an incident in 2018.

“I took a tractor and helped them out of the flooded area and drove them to the nearby PPS.

“Since then, I will use the tractor to help flood victims in this area, especially women and children,” he said when met in Kampung Sungai Gatom, here, today.

Roslan said he managed to help transport about 40 victims in Kampung Sungai Gatom and Kampung Usaha Jaya to the PPS at Kampung Sungai Gatom hall after it had been raining non-stop in the area since early this morning.

His rescue mission began at 9 am and ended at 2 pm, he said, adding that he felt relief as his effort had helped those who were in need.

Meanwhile, checks by Bernama at several flood locations around Segamat found that most of the affected areas were situated near the river and several roads in the district were also flooded such as Jalan Labis – Yong Peng, but still passable by all types of vehicles.

As of 4 pm, four rivers in Johor have passed the dangerous level with an upward trend, namely Sungai Muar (19.04 metres), Sungai Lenik at Chaah Plantation (6.4 metres), Sungai Segamat in Segamat Kecil (37.97 metres) and Sungai Kahang in Kampung Contoh (14.41 metres).

Segamat is the most affected district with 975 victims.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 24 (Bernama) — Parti Warisan (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal hopes that work to upgrade the infrastructure and increase the capability of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Complex (CIQS) at the Sarawak and Sabah borders can be expedited.

This is following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Finance Minister, announcement on the approval of the allocation of RM1 billion for the commencement of the upgrading work after chairing the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council meeting in Kuching on Friday (Jan 20),

Mohd Shafie said the upgrading was to enable ties between Malaysia and Indonesia to be further improved from the social aspect besides further facilitating the entry of labour from the neighbouring country for the plantation sector, especially in Sabah.

“The creation or upgrading of the CIQS must be looked at seriously,” he told reporters after attending Tanjung Aru state assemblyman Datuk Junz Wong’s Chinese New Year open house, here, today.

Commenting on the status of Sabah and Sarawak as regions, Mohd Shafie said that the gazetting needed to be carried out because it is an identity that will be the difference between the two states and other states in the peninsula.

He said distinguishing the identities is vital because Sabah and Sarawak had certain powers that are very different from other states, such as immigration jurisdiction and certain rights in MA63.

In addition, he said the Federal Constitution also provides for several specific matters for Sabah and Sarawak, among them the provision of special allocations, which are stipulated in Article 112D of the Federal Constitution.

“Such matters are not stipulated in other states from Perlis to Johor. So, we need a legal basis… the constitution should not be disputed,” he said.

On Jan 13, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also UMNO president, was reported to have said in his speech at the 2022 UMNO General Assembly that Sabah and Sarawak had been accorded the status of region and are no longer regarded as states within Malaysia.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency