Author: web Desk

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 6 (Bernama) — Sabah UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) announced that they are withdrawing their support towards Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister tonight.

 

Sabah UMNO liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also state BN chariman, said the stand decided at the party meeting here tonight was made because of a loss in confidence in Hajiji’s position as Chief Minsiter, in addition to breach of agreement between BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN).

 

Bung Moktar said BN and PN implemented an agreement to form the state government following the Sabah state elections in 2020, but Hajiji and other leaders of Sabah Bersatu, which is a component of PN, left the party, causing the state government to lose its legitimacy.

 

 

 

“Hajiji also threatened us with a Cabinet reshuffle without any discussion. We have also lost confidence after Hajiji lost his locus standi, and qualifications to be selected as Sabah Chief Minister.

 

“According to the Sabah state constitution, the chief minister must be chosen from a party with the majority. He (Hajiji) is without a party, his standing is under GRS, which is a grad coalition party,” he said in a media conference at Sabah UMNO Building in Karamunsing here tonight.

 

Bung Moktar said the agreement between BN and PN to form the state government mentioned the appointment of state Cabinet members and state government-linked companies from UMNO or BN.

 

 

“Today Hajiji, besides announcing the Cabinet reshuffle without discussion, also terminated Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (BN assemblyman for Usukan) as Qhazanah Sabah Berhad chairman without negotiations with the Sabah BN chairman,” he said.

 

Bung Moktar added that he would seek an audience with Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin to carry out his function as a state leader to review Hajiji’s appointment as Chief Minister.

 

On whether the decision was supported by all Sabah BN assemblymen, he admitted that five out of 18 of them did not support the decision, but did not name the five.

 

“We act based on the party, even though the assemblymen does not support it, to me, that’s fine because the party’s decision is final and we will take whatever stern action, including disciplnary action against assemblymen who chose not to support the decisions of the party,” he added.

 

Bung Moktar also said that he would inform Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the decision soon.

 

He also did not reject the possibility of working with any party, when asked about the party’s plans in Sabah, including the possibility of working with Parti Warisan.

 

“We can work with any party as long as they are sincere,” he said, adding that they were not adverse to being involved with the transitioning of the state goverment, but noted that it would depend on the Yang Dipertua Negeri.

 

The Sabah state assembly has 79 assemblymen, 73 elected and six appointed.

 

With the withdrawal of support from Sabah UMNO and BN, the current Sabah state government  led by Hajiji now has the support of 41 assemblymen, 29 from GRS, PH (seven), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (three), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (one) and an independent. Warisan has 19 seats while PAS has one seat.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 5 (Bernama) — Two Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) projects have been listed as finalists for the 2023 Award of ‘World Summit on The Information Society Prizes’ (WSIS) organised by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

 

MCMC in a statement today said it was the National Digital Network (JENDELA) interconnection project that was selected for the Communication and Information Infrastructure category while the Click Smart Initiative (KDB) was for the Ethical Dimensions for an Information Society category.

 

“The nomination of the MCMC initiative proves the international community’s recognition of the projects that have been developed in Malaysia,” it said.

 

 

 

MCMC said the participation of the JENDELA Plan in 2023 WSIS focuses on the development of comprehensive digital infrastructure to expand coverage and improve the quality of broadband services in the country.

 

KDB’s participation focuses on initiatives to increase knowledge and education about Internet safety and promote a culture of positive, productive and responsible Internet use to ensure that society continues to practise a culture of respect and ethics when online.

 

WSIS 2023 sees the MCMC competing alongside the participation of other countries such as China, Singapore and Qatar.

 

 

The public can vote for both initiatives through the link https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/stocktaking/Prizes/2023 before Jan 25.

 

MCMC had been crowned as WSIS Prize winner in 2016, 2017 and 2020 for the project ‘Kemaman Smart Community’, ‘Development of e-Magazine for Schools in Smart Community Districts in Malaysia’ and ‘Click Wisely’.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) — The operation of the Kelana Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) service is experiencing delays due to a switch malfunction, resulting in all trains moving slowly and stopping for longer periods.

 

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd said the first incident occurred at 4.24 pm today, causing the train to be manually operated between the KL Sentral and Pasar Seni stations, adding that the technical team went to the location and the repair work was completed at 5.20 pm.

 

“The second disruption occurred between the Damak and Dato’ Keramat stations at 5.26 pm. As of now technical staff is actively carrying out repairs and will ensure normal operation resumes immediately,” it said in a statement today.

 

 

 

 

To reduce congestion at the stations, free shuttle services will be provided between the KLCC, Ampang Park, Damai, Dato’ Keramat, Jelatek and Setiawangsa stations.

 

Commuters are advised to plan their journey as well as check Rapid KL’s social media to get the latest information.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KANGAR, Jan 5 (Bernama) — The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail has called on the people in the state to prioritise their health.

 

He said the measures include undergoing regular medical check-ups for early detection of diseases as well as following the advice of medical experts to seek treatment or take medicines.

 

“We don’t want our future generations to whine about many issues such as development and so on but they themselves are unhealthy.

 

 

 

“The same applies to the new year, we have new year’s resolution, but it will be in vain if you are unhealthy,” said Tuanku Syed Faizuddin at the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs) Peduli contribution presentation ceremony at the Alwi Mosque, here today.

 

The event was also attended by MAIPs chief executive officer Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi and Bernama executive editor Harlina Samson.

 

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also the MAIPs president, called on the public to take advantage of a number of health screening programmes organised by MAIPs and the Perlis Health Department, including the one that was held today.

 

 

The programme also saw a total of 140 asnaf (eligible tithe recipients) who have undergone health check-ups receive zakat aid through the MAIPs Peduli programme.

 

After the event, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin led the MAIPs Peduli Cycling programme to visit the homes of three asnaf here, to deliver the donations.

 

First held in 2013, the MAIPs Peduli Cycling programme with the Raja Muda of Perlis has benefited a total of 38,995 asnaf recipients, and a total of RM24.77 million in zakat money has been distributed as of last year.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

SEREMBAN, Jan 5 (Bernama) — The Transport Ministry will improve goods and food delivery services using motorcycles (p-hailing) especially in ensuring riders’ safety in the near future.

 

Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the improvement would not only involve the riders but also the companies that provide the p-hailing platform.

 

He said the move was not to trouble any party involved in the gig economy but to ensure riders’ safety.

 

 

 

“We don’t want to see these riders riding so fast because they want to earn a living, which can endanger themselves,” he told reporters after attending the 2023 road safety campaign here, today.

 

In the meantime, he said the ministry has not decided to approve any motorcycle taxi services as one of the alternatives for public transportation in the country.

 

Loke said there were requests from local companies to roll out a pilot project for this taxi service but it should be studied in terms of suitability and people’s willingness to accept it.

 

 

“In Bangkok and Jakarta, it is an acceptable mode of transportation but I think in this country we are not yet prepared to use motorcycles as taxis,” he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

KUALA KANGSAR, Jan 5 (Bernama) — The Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council (MPKK) will ensure efforts to preserve and conserve the historical heritage in the royal city are carried out continuously.

 

Its president, Zulqarnain Mohamad said his team will give its firm commitment to make sure more intensive preservation and conservation work toward artifacts, and monuments including historic buildings in Kuala Kangsar will be made.

 

“Kuala Kangsar is rich in landmark heritage monuments, historical architecture, traditional customs, trade, biodiversity, and culture that can be utilised comprehensively.

 

 

 

“Like in Laman Pahlawan, situated in Jalan Bukit Kerajaan Bukit Chandan, which has its own historic value, we placed the keris monument and armoured car as well as fighter plane in Dataran Putra,” he said.

 

He said this when met after placing the historic notice board at Laman Sejarah together with Malayan Historical Group (MHG) chairman Shaharom Ahmad and Perak Heritage Association secretary Nor Hisham Zulkiflee.

 

Zulqarnain said many old buildings that are still being used possess high historic value and are tourist attractions, which are also emphasised by MPKK.

 

 

“We are worried that if these buildings and monuments are not restored as soon as possible and are left abandoned to the ravages of time, they will eventually collapse or be damaged to the point that they cannot be saved.

 

“If they (buildings) are owned by the government then we will be able to help restore them and if they are privately owned we will make sure that the repair work is done without losing the historical value of the building itself,” he also said.

 

Meanwhile, Shaharom said his team cooperates with the local authorities (PBT) in efforts to channel information and historic value of places so that the historical side continues to be preserved.

 

“MHG praises MPKK efforts in preserving the historical values ​​in Kuala Kangsar, even here we have installed many historical notice boards.

 

“We hope that this collaboration with MHG will continue so that the historic value will be preserved for future generations thus creating a society rich in its own historical culture,” he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

 

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 5 (Bernama) — Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says he will get a full report on the actions of two Russians who allegedly trespassed into the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur recently, before providing any information on the matter.

 

“It is premature for me to give any answer…give me some space to get a full report,” he said in a press conference after chairing a special joint committee meeting of the Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Human Resources (V. Sivakumar) on the management of foreign workers here, today.

 

Previously, photos and videos of the two individuals from the top of the skyscraper went viral on social media.

 

 

 

The Russian woman involved was also said to have revealed how she trespassed into the tower on social media.

 

The media reported today that the police would seek information on the entry and exit records of the couple from the Immigration Department.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency