Category: General

PUTRAJAYA, April 26 (Bernama) –The federal government and the Pahang government today signed a Supplementary Agreement, which is supplemental to the main agreement on the Restructuring of the Pahang Water Service Industry.

The signing of the supplementary agreement, which involved the federal government, Pahang government, Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) and Pengurusan Air Pahang Bhd (PAIP), was held here and witnessed by Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Datuk Mansor. Othman.

It was signed by the Environment and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang, Pahang State Secretary Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak, PAAB Chief Executive Officer Abdul Hadi Ali and PAIP chief executive officer Saiful Zaini Mohd Bahari.

Wan Rosdy and Mansor, in a joint statement issued in conjunction with the ceremony, said the signing of the supplementary agreement would enable the main agreement that signed in Kuantan, Pahang, on Dec 23, 2020, to be enforced and the restructuring of the Pahang water services industry to be enforced.

Among the essence of the supplementary agreement is on the granting of a moratorium to PAIP starting from the increase in water tariff and for a 45-year loan period given to PAAB, including a five-year loan deferral period effective from the implementation date on the increase in water tariff in Pahang.

“The restructuring of the Pahang water service industry does not have direct financial implications for the Federal government and the agreement to write off the rural water supply loan to Pahang amounting to RM1 billion is still binding,” it said.

It also stated that PAIP would also get access to PAAB loan facilities for the development of water assets in Pahang based on a build and lease approach at a competitive rate compared to commercial financing.

“This enables PAIP to start improving the efficiency and quality of water services to consumers with the construction of new water treatment plants, upgrading of existing water treatment plants as well as the replacement of pipes and distribution systems,” read the statement.

The joint statement also stated that the agreement between the federal and state governments on the restructuring of the water service industry in Pahang would have a high positive impact on economic development and also the well -being of the people in Pahang.

“The commitment of all parties in ensuring the provision of high quality water supply services is in line with the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) approach of togetherness and inclusiveness,” it stated.

On Dec 23, 2020, Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported as saying that the federal government had agreed to write off loans to the Pahang government, amounting to RM2.1 billion, through the Pahang Water Service Industry Restructuring Agreement.

According to Tuan Ibrahim, it involved a rural water supply loan amounting to RM1 billion, while the balance is the novation of the state government’s loan to PAAB to develop water assets in Pahang through a build and lease approach to PAIP.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — All rest and service areas (R&R) and lay-bys along the North-South Expressway will be opened 24 hours daily to meet the needs of travellers during the Aidilfitri celebration

PLUS Malaysia Berhad (PLUS) chief operating officer, Datuk Datuk Zakaria Ahmad Zabidi said in anticipation of the huge volume of traffic, there will be additional mobile toilet facilities and water tankers at R&Rs and lay-bys.

“To manage traffic at rest areas, PLUS is also getting the assistance of RELA personnel,” he said in a statement here today.

He said in the event of over-crowding that disrupts the traffic along the highway, some rest areas would be temporarily closed to manage the congestion and would be re-opened once the crowd has dispersed.

Apart from that, there are 109 petrol stations along PLUS expressway to facilitate families to grab a quick snack and for toilet breaks while refueling their vehicles.

PLUS expects more than two million vehicles on its network of highways from April 29 to May 9.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — More than 250,000 international tourists were recorded to have entered and left Malaysia through the main entry points as of April 4, following the reopening of the country’s borders on April 1.

Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) deputy secretary-general (Culture), Datuk Saraya Arbi, said based on the statistics, the ministry also expected international tourist arrivals to Malaysia to continue to increase from time to time.

She said this after distributing 150 food packs to Bernama and BernamaTV staff in conjunction with the ministry’s Iftar programme.

Saraya also said that the ministry would highlight several new programmes to attract more international tourists to the country.

“There are differences that we want to provide to (international) tourists to come to Malaysia, and if possible we do not want to provide similar programmes. They need to be different compared with what we have had before.

“Recently, the ministry held IFTAR@KL, held in Jalan Raja, and also the Citrawarna Keluarga Malaysia 2022 programme which was held in Kuching, Sarawak, and most likely there will be more new programmes that will be highlighted,” she said.

Previously, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, was reported to have said that Malaysia was expected to attract two million international tourists this year, with RM8.6 billion in tourism revenue, following the reopening of the country’s borders on April 1.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, April 25 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Bar said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation against Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is unconstitutional.

Its president, Karen Cheah Yee Lynn, also said that the probe violates the doctrine of separation of powers and also undermines the independence of the judiciary.

In a statement, she said “there are mechanisms in place to deal with this issue and … any attempt by irresponsible parties can be seen as to stab public confidence in the Judiciary.”

“Article 125 of the Federal Constitution provides a specific pathway which allows for complaints of judicial misconduct to be addressed in a manner that ensures continued public confidence in the Judiciary.

“Without that necessary confidence instilled in the Judiciary as an institution, the administration of justice system cannot command the respect and acceptance that are essential to its effective operation in our administration of justice,” she said.

Justice Mohd Nazlan had lodged a police report on April 21 over a news article published by the Malaysia Today portal alleging that he is being investigated for unexplained money transferred into his bank account.

The Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court had said in a statement that Mohd Nazlan denied the “false, baseless and malicious allegations” aimed at undermining his credibility as a Court of Appeal judge.

It had also said that the office takes such allegations and comments seriously, and reminded the public that charges against the Judiciary which are intended to interfere with cases that are in trial are a violation of the principle of sub judice.

Cheah said it is not apparent to the public who lodged the report, or when such a report was lodged.

“What is obvious to the Malaysian Bar is that there should be no double standards by authorities in approaching the same issue – and on this basis we demand equivalent investigations to be carried out by the police authorities on the police report lodged by Datuk Nazlan on the allegations raised by the statements issued by Raja Petra Kamarudin on his blog, Malaysia Today, dated 20 April 2022,” she said.

Cheah said the Malaysian Bar is fully aware that the judiciary is not in any position to take steps to protect itself by involving itself in a trial by media or any form of public controversy.

“… there is therefore a need by the Malaysian Bar to protect the dignity and integrity of the courts and the Judiciary as a whole, considering the nature of the office has always been that it is defenceless to criticism or wild allegations made by irresponsible parties,” she said.

“We call for a circumspect approach by our authorities, and not to fall to the temptation to the irresponsible noise made by keyboard warriors – cull the easy approach, for the greater good of our nation,” Cheah said.

On April 23, The Star newspaper carried an exclusive report stating that MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had confirmed that the commission had commenced a probe against Justice Mohd Nazlan over allegations of unexplained money in his account following official reports lodged with it regarding the matter.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MERSING, April 25 (Bernama) — The Mersing District Council (MDM) has introduced the ‘Mersing Tourism Operating System’ (MeTOS) in an effort to improve the management of tourism activities in the district systematically, effective May 1.

MDM president, Mohd Norman Noh, said that the use of the system was made the main requirement for applications for Water Transport Service Licences, and compulsory for island hopping activities.

He said that there are three main modules, namely registration, online booking and payment, which must be completed by the operator and confirmed by MDM, before conducting activities.

“Only licensed operators can use this system, and any application must be submitted five days before any activity is carried out.

“This system also helps in managing the number and (types of) tourism activities at selected locations, apart from recording the number of tourist arrivals as well as facilitating the monitoring of island hopping activities in the islands of Mersing,” he said via a statement today.

Mohd Norman also said that MeTOS was developed by MDM, in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Segamat, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

He said that the agreement was signed by the former MDM president, Norazmi Amir Hamzah, and Johor branch UiTM, Rector Prof Dr Ismail Ahmad.

“I hope that all operators, agents and tourist boats can give their cooperation to ensure that this system can be implemented effectively,” he said, adding that scuba-diving activities were still banned.

On April 7, the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, decreed that all diving activities be temporarily suspended.

The decree was issued following the disappearance of four foreign scuba divers in the waters of Pulau Tokong Sanggol, about nine nautical miles from Tanjung Leman here, on April 6.

Three divers, Norwegian Kristine Grodem, 35, Englishman Adrian Peter Chesters, 46, and French woman Alexia Alexandra Molina, 18, were found safe while Dutch citizen Nathen Renze Chesters, 14, was reported to have died.

Mersing has five main islands, namely, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Besar, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Aur and Pulau Pemanggil.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, 25 April (Bernama) — Upgrading and replacement work for 306 lifts at People’s Housing Projects (PPR) and Public Housing (PA) projects have been conducted since 2020 and is expected to continue until 2024.

A statement from the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) stated that the work, which is being conducted in phases, involved a cost of RM169.6 million and will take another two years to finish.

“In addition to the replacement of lifts, scheduled maintenance and monitoring of lifts are conducted by existing contractors on site, who are also responsible should the lifts suffer damage,” the statement read.

According to the statement, the first phase involves 12 housing areas, PA Seri Kota, PA Seri Sabah 3A, PA Seri Sabah 3B, PPR Desa Petaling, PPR Salak Selatan, PPR Seri Anggerik, PPR Sg Bonus, PA Hang Tuah, PA Loke Yew, PA Seri Selangor, PPR Bukit Jalil 1 and PPR Bukit Jalil 2.

“A total of 104 lifts are being replaced and work will be completed by the end of this year,” the statement read.

Phase two will involve 109 lifts in 10 areas, PPR Raya Permai, PPR Seri Malaysia, PA Seri Perak, PPR Seri Alam, PA Kerinci 1A, PPR Kerinci, PPR Seri Cempaka, PPR Kg Muhibah, PPR Semarak and PA Seri Tioman.

Phase three will involve 18 lifts at PPR Desa Tun Razak and PA Seri Sarawak, while phase four will involve 48 lifts at PPR Batu Muda, PPR Laksamana, PPR Perkasa and PPR Pekan Kepong.

Phase five meanwhile involves three areas, PPR Bukit Jalil (Blok L,M,G & H), PA Seri Terengganu dan Seri Pangkor (1 & 2) with 27 lifts slated for replacement.

Batu MP P. Prabakaran had earlier claimed that the project announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in October last year had yet to show any signs of even starting.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency