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Kedah Aerotropolis: Muhammad Sanusi to meet PM Anwar to give detailed briefing

ALOR SETAR, Jan 4 (Bernama) — Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor will meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim soon to give a detailed explanation about the proposed Kedah Aerotropolis project.

 

Muhammad Sanusi said this is to clarify that the project will be carried out through the private funding initiative (PFI) and will not involve allocations from the federal government.

 

“I ha

 

ve instructed KXP Airport City Holding Sdn Bhd to set up a meeting with the prime minister because I was made to understand that he has yet to get a full picture of the project and believes that it will require government funding.

 

 

 

“Since the federal government’s financial situation is less encouraging, the decision must be to put the project on hold. Therefore, I want to meet (the prime minister) and give a full explanation,” he told a press conference after chairing the state executive councillors meeting at Wisma Darul Aman here today.

 

For the record, the Kulim International Airport (KXP) is one of the components of the Kedah Aerotropolis mega project.

 

Muhammad Sanusi further said that in order to implement the project, the state needs to obtain the permission of the federal government, especially regarding land acquisition, while anything related to the development of airports is under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry.

 

 

“Two weeks ago, we conducted interviews and evaluation sessions for companies interested in developing Kedah Aerotropolis, and two companies were shortlisted. Several more technical aspects will be identified for the companies to fulfil.

 

“So, the state government hopes that the federal government can give its support so that the project can be implemented and bring economic progress in Kedah and other northern states,” he said.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

 

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Single mum’s 17-year wait for a home ends, thanks to Johor Sultan

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 4 (Bernama) — A single mother’s wait of almost 17 years to have her own home finally came true when she received the gift of a refurbished house under the royal patronage of the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.

 

  1. Poongkodi, 54, who supports her family as a school van driver, was grateful to be selected and was in disbelief at the housing grant bestowed on her.

 

She said her husband died on Feb 14, 2006, in a road accident on his way to work in Pasir Gudang.

 

 

 

Ever since his demise, she and her two children moved into her mother’s house.

 

“Our old house in Jalan Kelapa Sawit was dilapidated and I could not afford to repair or rebuild it as I was supporting two children in higher education studies.

 

“However, the dream for me and my two children to return to our old home has come true with the blessing of His Highness the Sultan of Johor,” she told the Royal Press Office according to a posting on the sultan’s Facebook today.

 

 

She was immensely grateful for the assistance provided by the volunteers of Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor (YSIJ).

 

“I highly appreciate the generosity of your gift. I will not forget Tuanku’s kind contribution until the end of my days,” she said at the house key-handover ceremony which was officiated by Mejar Cina Datuk David Wong.

 

Meanwhile, Wong said the cost of rebuilding the house, which is equipped with three bedrooms, toilet, kitchen, fans and lighting fixtures, was fully funded by YSIJ.

 

“A thousand thanks to Kulai District Officer Zainor Adani who helped a lot and who also ensured that the house has electricity and water supply.

 

“This is the first time the gift of new permanent home assistance has been presented to recipients from the Indian community,” he said.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Dengue cases in 2022 rose by 150 pct, death toll up by 180 pct from 2021 – Health DG

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) — The cumulative number of dengue fever cases reported in 2022 saw an increase of 150.7 per cent or 39,737 cases to a total of 66,102 cases from only 26,365 cases reported in 2021.

 

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the cumulative number of deaths due to dengue complications reported in 2022 was 56 compared to 20 in 2021, which is an increase of 180 per cent.

 

“The increase in the number of cases and death due to dengue should be given serious attention by all parties. Combating dengue is everyone’s responsibility,” he said in a statement here today.

 

 

 

Dr Noor Hisham said preventive measures are necessary to ensure that dengue fever incidents can be prevented.

 

In this context, he said that spraying mosquito repellent will not solve the dengue problem if the mosquito breeding sites were not eliminated.

 

Dr Noor Hisham said among the factors for the increase in dengue cases was the movement of people after all sectors were fully opened post-COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

Asymptomatic dengue patients who visited new places will bring with them the dengue viruses which are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species, he said.

 

Other factors are the change in the serotype of dengue to DEN 4in most states as well as the habit of people in some communities who do not dispose of waste properly, hence contributing to the creation of Aedes breeding grounds.

 

“Weather, temperature and flood disasters can also affect the development of mosquito and larvae which cause the population of Aedes to increase and subsequently spread the dengue virus,” he said.

 

In a bid to reduce the incidence of dengue cases and epidemics, Dr Noor Hisham advised the states that have been hit by floods, such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis, Perak, Kedah, Sabah and Sarawak, to start cleaning up piles of garbage and waste within a week after the floods recede so as to prevent the flood-hit areas from becoming breeding grounds for Aedes.

 

He also reminded all residents to find and destroy Aedes breeding places in their respective residential areas every week and use the larvicides in places that have the potential to become breeding grounds for Aedes such as toilet pumps, decorative ponds and water fountains.

 

Meanwhile, Dr Noor Hisham said Chikungunya surveillance recorded a total of 13 cases during the 52nd epidemiology week with eight cases from Penang, four cases from Selangor and one case each from the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

 

The cumulative number of Chikungunya cases reported in 2022 was 814, quite a significant drop from the 1,432 cases reported throughout 2021.

 

For Zika surveillance throughout 2022, he said a total of 2,238 blood samples and 18 urine samples were tested for Zika and all the results came back negative, he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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GRS ready to prove support for Hajiji as Chief Minister – Masidi

KOTA KINABALU, Jan 4 (Bernama) — Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is prepared to prove the legitimacy of support from Sabah state assemblymen for Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as the Chief Minister, said GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

 

He said this was because certain quarters claimed to have secured the support of more than half of the Sabah assemblymen to enable this group to form a new state government.

 

Hajiji had received declarations of support from a majority of Sabah assemblymen, including seven Pakatan Harapan (PH) representatives, to continue leading the state government, he said.

 

 

 

“We are prepared to prove the legitimacy of this support to the appropriate parties if and when required.

 

“The political environment and situation in Sabah remain stable for business and investment purposes,” he said in a statement today.

 

The Sabah State Assembly has 79 assemblymen – 73 elected and six appointed.

 

 

The Sabah government now has the support of 59 assemblymen, comprising 29 from GRS, Barisan Nasional (17), PH (seven), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (three), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (one), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (one) and Independent (one).

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Prof Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed is new USM vice-chancellor – MOHE

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 3 (Bernama) — The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has announced the appointment of Datuk Prof Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed as Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) new vice-chancellor, effective today.

 

In a statement, MOHE said Abdul Rahman had served as the university’s deputy vice-chancellor (Industry and Community Networking) from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2018, before being appointed as the deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Innovation) from May 1, 2018, to date.

 

“Besides having vast administrative experience, he is also a well-respected researcher especially in the field of Applied Sciences and Technologies, both locally and abroad.

 

 

 

 

“Being the only public university in Malaysia that has been selected as the Accelerated Programme for Excellence (APEX) university, the ministry is confident that Abdul Rahman’s appointment as USM vice-chancellor will strengthen the higher education sector and subsequently build a future that is more sustainable and prosper based on excellence,” said the statement.

 

Abdul Rahman graduated with an honours degree in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California in the United States.

 

He then did his Master’s and PhD in the same field at the University of New Hampshire, also in the United States.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Intensify usage of social media to promote Islam, says Abang Johari

KUCHING, Jan 3 (Bernama) — The usage of social media such as Telegram and WhatsApp should be intensified as another platform to preach and share Islamic ideas, especially to the new generation, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

 

He said with the advancement in communication technology, physical distance was no longer a barrier to instant connection and this should provide ample opportunities to further promote Islamic values.

 

“It is no longer abnormal that we have to adopt and adapt (new technology). I believe within a few years from now, we will be using hologram, which is a futuristic method of displaying an image using light to form a 3D object, and I had that experience in Korea (during a recent visit),” he said.

 

 

 

When opening the Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific (RISEAP) 19th General Assembly here today, he said even the recent RISEAP regional exco meeting was conducted online via zoom.

 

According to him, with the continuity of excellent governance, RISEAP will be able to expand its reach beyond the current 24 member countries and increase its membership in the years to come.

 

“There are many opportunities for people from different religions to come together and raise mutual understanding. It requires confidence and openness to reach out and take the step that will bring us together by promoting interfaith understanding and working closely with other religious groups,” Abang Johari added.

 

 

RISEAP was formed on Nov 11, 1980 with the aim of bringing together Muslim-minority countries in the region.

 

Malaysia’s first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, served as its first president and the current president is Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, who succeeded Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1988.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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COVID variants BA.5.2 detected in Malaysia since March 16, BF.7 since Aug 21 last year

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) — Two Omicron variants of COVID-19, namely BA.5.2 and BF.7, which made up about 80 per cent of the variants currently infecting China, have been detected in Malaysia since March 16  and Aug 21 last year, respectively.

 

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the first case of BF.7 detected on Aug 21 was a case of local infection, while the second on Sept 6 was a case of imported infection from Turkiye, and the third on Oct 7 was another case of local infection.

 

“At the global level, for the BA.5.2 variant, the peak transmission period was around September-October 2022, with most cases detected in countries such as South Africa, England, China and the United States.

 

 

 

 

“For the BF.7 variant, the peak of transmission was in October 2022 and were mostly detected in countries like Belgium, England, Denmark and China,” he said in a posting on Facebook.

 

Yesterday, Dr Noor Hisham said as of Dec 31 last year, there were 4,148 cases of BA.5.2 variant and three cases of BF.7 variant infections in the country.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency