Business & Finance

The retail price of RON95 and RON97 petrol will drop by three sen per litre while that of diesel will reduce by six sen per litre for the period of Nov 7 to 13.

The Ministry of Finance, in a statement today, said that the new price per litre for RON95, RON97 and diesel are at RM1.61, RM 1.91 and RM1.68 respectively.

“The price is based on the weekly retail pricing of petroleum products using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.

“The government will continue to monitor the impact of changes in world crude oil prices and take appropriate measures to ensure the welfare and well-being of the people continue to be protected,” the statement said today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

A total of 15,000 kilogrammes (kgs) of cooking oil was seized along with various other items such as oil transfer equipment and a lorry, all worth an estimated RM240,000, during Ops Goreng at Teluk Panglima Garang yesterday.

Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) enforcement director Datuk Iskandar Halim Sulaiman said the seizure was made in a raid on a building at Lot 1602(B) Jalan Waja, Batu 9, Sijangkang.

The operation, jointly conducted by four Shah Alam KPDNHEP personnel and several policemen, was the result of a two-week surveillance on illicit activities regarding subsidised cooking oil for the local and international markets.

“During the raid, two male workers, a local and a Bangladeshi aged 35 and 45, were filling up a 1,000 kg capacity tank on a lorry with subsidised cooking oil to be sent to a company in Puchong, Selangor,” he said in a statement today.

He said that further investigations led to the discovery of a trailer lorry with a 3,000 kg load of subsidised cooking oil and a 12,000 kg tank filled with subsidised cooking oil.

“Equipment used to separate subsidised cooking oil into one kg packets was also found, including knives, scissors, pipes, a pump, basins and plastic funnels. A total of 5,000 used 1 kg oil packets were found at the premises.

“In addition, scales that we suspect were used to measure the oil before being exported and shipping documents from licensed cooking oil suppliers in Selangor were also found,” he said.

Iskandar Halim added that both suspects revealed their job was to separate and fill the tanks with cooking oil and deliver the oil to third parties.

“Based on their confession, the store has been in operation for six months. The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

The public is urged to channel information regarding such illicit activities through the hotline 1-800-886-800 or call 03- 8882 6088 at the Enforcement Command Centre or to visit any KPDNHEP office.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

— Villagers in Sabah breathed a sigh of relief after the state government distributed food baskets to those affected by the spread of COVID-19.

They also expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Sabah government for the fast and smooth distribution of the food aid.

A resident of Kampung Lok Lok, Putatan, Jafrih Taip said the food basket was timely and beneficial to the villagers who faced difficulties to leave their homes due to the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) or Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).

“Thanks to the state government for willing to assist villagers who are currently facing difficulties to replenish their food supplies,” he told Bernama.

Sharing a similar sentiment, Kampung Gayang Tuaran resident, Ronny Roy said the food aid was very meaningful to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as some had become jobless.

Jerry Soibik from Kampung Lapasan Telipok said the aid could ensure that the residents did not leave their homes as there was food supplied by the state government.

“For a week or two, I will stay in the house with my children as there is no need to go out. The food basket is sufficient for a period of time,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sabah Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister, Shahelmy Yahya said the state government was currently in the process of improving the food aid to ensure the programme could truly help people affected by the pandemic.

“So far, 131,052 food baskets have been distributed to the target groups throughout Sabah,” he told reporters after inspecting the food basket collection centre for Tuaran district, near here, today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR The Ministry of Finance (MoF) today released a list of ministries that had received government procurement approval through direct negotiations during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration involving 101 projects worth RM6.61 billion.

In a statement, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the list was disclosed based on good governance and upholding transparency in administration.

The Transport Ministry received procurement via direct negotiations with the highest value at RM4.47 billion involving four projects, followed by the Defence Ministry, worth RM900 million (six projects); Home Ministry, RM517 million (eight projects); Communications and Multimedia Ministry, RM380 million (12 projects); Housing and Local Government Ministry, RM170 million (two projects); and the Education Ministry, RM87.49 million (seven projects).

The Health Ministry received procurement valued at RM10.87 million involving four projects; International Trade and Industry Ministry, RM10.36 million (nine projects); Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, RM8.46 million (seven projects); MoF, RM9.03 million (four projects); Prime Minister’s Department, RM8.18 million (five projects); Rural Development Ministry, RM7.36 million (two projects); and Youth and Sports Ministry, RM6.45 million (one project).

Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, RM6.15 million (eight projects); Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry, RM5.67 million (13 projects); Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, RM1.18 million (one project), Economic Affairs Ministry, RM1.17 million (four projects); Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, RM0.57 million (two projects); Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, RM0.16 million (one project); and Federal Territories Ministry, RM0.096 million (one project).

Tengku Zafrul said direct negotiations are allowed based on procurement process which meets one or more of the following requirements:

Procurement for supply and services which involve an urgent necessity such that if the procurement is not implemented immediately, it can jeopardise and affect services as well as the nation’s interest;

Standardisation needs to ensure compatibility between existing goods and goods to be procured;

One source of supply or service, that is, production of product or provision of service can only be supplied from only one source;

Security/strategic which involves procurement for items or services for the sake of the country’s security and strategic interest; or

Contract with Bumiputera manufacturer that meets all conditions.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Penang government aimed to boost the arts and culture industry as an economic generating sector for the state.

In a statement today, state Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said even though the manufacturing and service industries are important for Penang, the creative industry would need a revolutionary vision to engage and transform the arts and culture sectors into a significant economic powerhouse for the state.

“As I evaluate our current environment and resources, I envision a clear direction to rejuvenate our arts and culture sector by integrating aspects of culture, arts, heritage and creativity,” he said.

He said that the arts and culture industry has been thrust into the limelight during the launch of “Beyond 2020”, an art exhibition initiated by the Penang Art Society on Aug 22.

Meanwhile, Penang Art Society president Ch’ng Huck Theng said the exhibition would feature works of more than 150 local and international artists in a showcase of creativity and solidarity against Covid-19.

“Together, we (will) become the hope to prove to the world that the pandemic did not hinder creativity but has opened up unexpected opportunities to ignite creativity despite movement restrictions,” Ch’ng said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BEAUFORT Application for admission to the MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) for the 2021 session for Form 1 and 4 students opens from 9am tomorrow (Aug 24).

MARA chairman Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said students applying for admission to MRSM for next year’s session are required to sit for the MRSM Entry Tendency Test (UKKM) to test their potential and interests in Mathematics, Science and English as well as aptitude test.

She said application can be made through the website http://www.mara.gov.my and the closing date is on Dec 4.

“Candidates must pass all four UKKM tests to qualify to be considered for entry to  MRSM and priority is given to students from low-income families. Applicants are advised to apply early to avoid any problems and facilitate the implementation of UKKM,” she added.

She told reporters this after officiating the two-day  MARA Educational Institution Carnival, at Dewan Pa’Musa here today.

The Beaufort Member of Parliament said a MARA Professional College (KPM) would be built on a 30-hectare site in Beaufort.

The college, which will be the first in Sabah, is expected to be in operation in 2023., she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency