Category: General

Ericsson, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) have announced their collaboration to launch a 5G education initiative in Malaysia to educate students on 5G and emerging technologies.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed by the three parties, Ericsson would open its Ericsson Educate platform to UTM students to provide access to learning material on key technologies.

DNB chief corporate affairs officer Zuraida Jamaluddin said DNB through this initiative would provide subject matter experts and consultations as well as internship opportunities to qualified course participants upon their graduation from UTM.

“This collaboration will enable UTM students to participate and contribute to the country’s digital economy and Industry Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) transformation,” she said in a statement.

DNB is a Minister of Finance Inc company, mandated to deploy Malaysia’s 5G network and infrastructure.

UTM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Ismail said the partnership with Ericsson and DNB is to integrate industry-driven content into its curriculum to help enhance its graduates’ skills and knowledge to equip them to effectively perform in the IR 4.0 working environment.

“This will also maximise the potential and excellence of individuals in the workforce through reskilling and upskilling opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, the collaboration will provide both students and lecturers with access to quality digital learning resources that draw on Ericsson’s 145-year experience in telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Pahang Menteri Besar press secretary Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamad Ali, who died at 5.42 pm today, was laid to rest at the Bukit Ubi Muslim Cemetery here at 9.40 pm.

The funeral prayers were held earlier at the Al-Muhajirin Mosque in Indera Mahkota 5 here, after the Isyak prayers, led by the chairman of the Pahang Islamic Religious Affairs and Education Committee, Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad.

Abdul Wahab, 61, died of blood cancer at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) here.

He is survived by his wife Laily Mohd Ebram, 62, and two daughters as well as two grandchildren.

Abdul Wahab, who was also a former News Desk Assistant Editor at the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), had served as press secretary under three Pahang Menteris Besar, namely Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and the most recent Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Meanwhile, his youngest daughter, Siti Amirah, 30, said her father was first diagnosed with the disease around last July and sought treatment at two hospitals here, but his condition worsened last November.

“Father just returned home last Friday (Jan 7) after eight days of treatment at the HTAA. However, he was rushed back to HTAA yesterday evening due to shortness of breath.

“By that time, the doctor had already told us his condition was not good and asked us to be prepared (for the worst),” she said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA BHARU, Jan 12 — The Kelantan government has denied the claim that logging activities in the state have forced tigers out of their natural habitat and prowled into the Orang Asli settlements in Gua Musang.

This followed an incident last Friday (Jan 7) of an Orang Asli man mauled to death by a tiger in Kampung Sau near Pos Bihai.

Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said a study should be conducted by the relevant parties to determine the factors that caused the mammal to come out of its natural habitat.

He said the incident of a tiger trespassing into a village in the state was not new as the sighting of the animal had been reported in the Jeli district, but the incident was never linked to the state’s logging activities.

“This incident is an isolated case. If there are many cases, then it can be said due to logging. We cannot say it is because of deforestation for a tiger to attack and kill a person, but, if there are three or four tigers that encroach into a village then it is serious,” he told reporters after the state executive council meeting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here today.

He said this in response to a claim by an Orang Asli representative from the Temiar tribe, Nasir Dollah, 32, that human-wildlife conflict, especially of tigers trespassing into the Orang Asli villages in Pos Bihai, occurred due to the Kelantan government’s action in approving thousands of forest areas for logging and other activities.

Yesterday, Nasir, representing the Temiar tribe, handed over a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Office urging Putrajaya to take concrete actions to stop deforestation activities in Gua Musang, Kelantan.

They blamed the recent fatal attack by a tiger and several sightings of the mammal near Orang Asli villages in the district on logging activities that caused wildlife to lose their habitats.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, Jan 12 — The operating hours for the COVID-19 vaccination centre dispensing the booster shots here have been extended until 8 pm during the weekdays, from 5 pm previously, effective Jan 10.

Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari said this was to help speed up the booster vaccination exercise and provide a flexible schedule for working adults.

“We have shifted the vaccination centre from the Membedai Health Clinic to the Darul Kifayah Complex on Dec 29 (last year), owing to the increasing number of people receiving the appointment for the booster jabs.

“After looking at the steady increase in the number (of vaccine recipients), we decided to extend the operating hours during weekdays,” he said to Bernama today.

On Saturdays, the vaccination centre at the Darul Kifayah Complex operates from 8 am to 4 pm.

Commenting further, Dr Ismuni said some 22,936 individuals out of the total 72,000 eligible adults in the duty-free island have received their booster shots as of Jan 11.

He added that the average number of people visiting the vaccination centre was around 800 to 1,000 daily.

Meanwhile, Labuan COVID-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF) chairman Rithuan Ismail said the booster vaccination roll-out would be expedited in view of the emergence of the Omicron variant.

“We are urging the people who have received the second dose of the vaccine and completed the six-month interval to visit the vaccination centre for the booster shots,” he said.

Labuan has recorded a fluctuating trend in COVID-19 cases since the first week of this month with a new active cluster of Jalan OKK Awang Besar Saudi, which was triggered by an Umrah pilgrim.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 12 — Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor has called on the religious authorities to take immediate action over a viral video of a man teaching extreme Sufism that deviates from the true teachings of Islam.

He said immediate action must be taken to prevent such misguidance from being spread in the country, as it could damage the faith of Muslims.

“The video has also mocked the Shariah and the Shariah scholars or ulamas with false allegations that the latter have so-called altered the teachings of the religion,” he said in a statement today.

He was commenting on a 3-minute-53-second video that had gone viral yesterday, in which a man claimed that performing the prayer or solah was an act that ‘deviated’ from the teachings of Islam.

Scores of netizens also left comments on the video urging the authorities to take action against the man.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 12 — The Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has announced his intention to find a permanent solution to the flood problem in the state.

He said among the important aspects that needed to be given attention were the drainage and sewerage systems that could accommodate high rainwater capacity, effective river management and a high level of readiness to handle disasters.

“Floods are a problem that occurs almost every year. Although there have been improvements in flood mitigation efforts since the events of 2006, I intend to find a permanent solution to the flood problem in Johor,” he said through a posting on his official Facebook today.

Tunku Ismail said he believed that prevention is better than cure, thus he will organise a river cleaning programme in the state as well as special initiatives and programmes next month to raise public awareness on the importance of keeping rivers clean.

He said the Sultan of Johor and his family would continue to work with the government in finding a permanent solution so that the Johor people would not have to face flood disasters again.

Earlier, Tunku Ismail met with Johor Bahru Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman and water management and drainage system experts for a briefing on the initiatives and efforts to improve flood mitigation in the state.

The flood situation in Johor is improving with the number of flood victims dropping to 1,044 people as of 4 pm, compared with 1,227 people this morning housed at 23 relief centres.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has conveyed his condolences over the passing of Pahang Menteri Besar press secretary, Datuk Abdul Wahab Mohamad Ali, at 5.42 pm today.

“May his soul be showered with blessings by Allah and placed among believers and the righteous,” shared the Prime Minister through his ‘Facebook story’ tonight.

Abdul Wahab, 61, died at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here, believed to be from blood cancer.

The death of Abdul Wahab was confirmed by the Menteri Besar’s Office in a brief statement to the media via WhatsApp.

Abdul Wahab, who opted for early retirement from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) on June 1, 2006, leaves behind a wife, two daughters and a pair of grandchildren.

He was by far the longest-serving press secretary, having served since 1995 and under three Pahang Menteris Besar, namely Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and the most recent, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency