Category: General

BINTULU, March 22 (Bernama) — Sarawak will implement the construction of the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) system route in Bintulu within five years, said Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The route will be connecting the town of Bintulu with Tanjung Kidurong, which will be developed as a petrochemical product production hub as well as a medical hub.

“With the construction of this ART route, Bintulu will be the second place after Kuching to have this public transport system,” he said during the Bintulu Development Authority appreciation ceremony tonight.

According to him, the construction will be able to meet the demand for the services, in line with industrial development in Tanjung Kidurong which will create 15,000 employment opportunities in the next four years.

Abang Johari said that, at the site of the methanol plant operated by Sarawak Petchem Sdn Bhd, the initial phase of the medical hub was carried out by a company from the United States with an investment value of RM200 million.

What will follow, he said, is the second phase, with an investment value of RM800 million by the company.

“This is a sign that the private sector has confidence in the economic policy brought by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) to Sarawak.

“This economic policy will be a catalyst for post-pandemic development until 2030, and will contribute to Gross Domestic Product which ranges from six to eight per cent,” he said.

The methanol plant, which is fully owned by the Sarawak government, will be the first hydrogen gas production centre in Malaysia.

A total of 10,000 tonnes of hydrogen will be produced at the centre, which will be purchased by Samsung from South Korea and Sumitomo from Japan.

Apart from being transportation for industrial workers, Abang Johari said that ART could be used by foreign tourists who wanted to visit Similajau National Park.

He also stressed that the development of Bintulu, which was once a fishing village occupied by 5,000 residents, which has been turned into an industrial area with a population of 230,000, is the result of a development plan brought by the Bintulu Development Authority since it was established 44 years ago.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) — The National Book Council of Malaysia (MBKM) has denied involvement with any business and transactions on the bukuku.my platform, including the issue of a 20 per cent commission rate.

According to MBKM in a statement today, the 20 per cent charge is the operating and maintenance costs for the platform which was created to provide an alternative channel for online book transactions.

“This will create an open market of quality books at competitive prices for consumers and relevant institutions,” read the statement.

MBKM said on Jan 26, book industry players were invited to a briefing on the bukuku.my platform to raise questions and give their views on any issues arising.

It also noted that the local order feature on the platform was still at the proposal stage while denying that the platform has elements of coercion and monopoly.

“Book industry players who wish to continue trading conventionally are not prevented to do so,” it added.

MBKM said it hoped that the country’s book industry players would continue to support policies prescribed to ensure that the industry’s capacity and professionalism level could be enhanced especially in terms of management.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, March 22 (Bernama) – Veteran actress, Wan Maimunah Wan Abdul Aziz, is beseeching producers to care more about the welfare of old-timers particularly when it comes to wages as many are not getting paid as promised and are being treated unfairly.

The five-time Berita Harian Anugerah Bintang Popular Top Comedic Actress (1992-96) said: “Producers, please take a look around … see how much we’re being paid. Sometimes it’s not the producers who are avoiding paying, but the production manager.

“A lot of people don’t know this. We work hard, but are not getting paid … the middleman takes it. Many artistes feel sad, but don’t say anything,” Wan Maimunah told reporters at Melaka’s National Artiste’s Day celebration today.

The 68-year-old also remarked that real talent is not appreciated, instead what matters more is the number of followers on social media.

“It’s completely different in other countries. They value talent. We’re not seeking worship, but respect,” said Wan Maimunah who is best known for her roles in tear- jerkers and has been in the industry for 50 years.

The Johorean said she was touched by the honour accorded her as a veteran actress by Melaka Unity, Information, Human Resources and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman, Ngwe Hee Sem, at the event that was also attended by Melaka Department of Information director, Shahrom Ravin Daram Abdullah.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, March 22 (Bernama) — The Penang State Education Department (JPN) will continue the engagement session with parents and the relevant agencies in explaining the matter of vaccination through the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids).

Penang Education director, Abdul Rashid Abdul Samad said the department hoped that the engagement session could further raise the confidence of parents in this vaccination programme towards curbing the viral infection.

“We had held two engagement sessions before to explain to parents the need to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and the number of the vaccinated children has increased.

“Hence, JPN through the schools is continuing this engagement session so that more parents will be better informed on the vaccination effort.

“I have been told that the number of children vaccinated against COVID-19 is still not satisfactory. We wish that many more children get vaccinated to protect them against the disease,” he told reporters after launching the Penang Education Transformation Empowerment Plan, here, today.

This transformation plan comprises the JPN’s three main thrusts with nine strategic goals, 15 key performance indicators and 27 high-impact activities in steering the education sector in Penang.

Meanwhile, the rate of class attendance at 270 primary schools in the state since their reopening yesterday was at 88 per cent out of over 120,000 pupils, showing that parents had the confidence of allowing their children to go to school, said Abdul Rashid.

He said in facing the COVID-19 situation, all relevant parties including the community, parents and teachers should playing their role well in ensuring the safety of students while in school.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TEMERLOH, March 22 (Bernama) — Applications for the ‘Micro Financing Programme for Hawkers and Small Traders’ involving a total allocation of RM48.52 million were opened beginning yesterday, says Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.

He said those interested could apply at Bank Rakyat, adding that among the relaxed conditions was setting aside the processes involving credit reporting agency CTOS and the Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) in an effort to help the parties involved to revive their businesses.

“This form of financing has no interest and comes with a one-year moratorium, with informal business owners allowed to borrow RM10,000 while for micro-businesses, it is up to RM50,000.

“Applications will also be approved in a short period of time, and if possible, we will set the processing period to within a week,” he told reporters after presenting the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) Flood Relief Grant (BBKM) for the state of Pahang at Dewan Tun Razak here, today.

Also present were State FELDA, Cooperatives, Entrepreneurs and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Nazri Ngah and State Tourism, Culture, Environment, Plantation and Commodities Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.

On Dec 3 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob while officiating the national-level Hawkers and Small Traders Day Celebration announced an allocation of RM48.52 million for the programme as a sign of the government’s continued commitment to looking after the welfare of the group.

According to the Prime Minister, the funds applied for can be used for business revival purposes such as working capital, purchase of equipment or hardware, or making payments for salary, rental and utility bills, among others.

Commenting on BBKM, Noh said his ministry through TEKUN Nasional had channelled grants worth RM10.2 million in Pahang to 3,400 informal and micro entrepreneurs affected by the floods.

Each of them received a one-off grant amounting to RM3,000.

In total, Noh said RM50 million had been allocated for the assistance, where 16,058 applications had been received nationwide so far, with 9,688 applications approved and 6,370 applications still being evaluated.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) — Local authorities in the country have recorded a total reduction in greenhouse (GHG) emissions in 2021 totalling 157,923.23 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent for low carbon zones.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said a reduction of 12,975.85 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent were reported by low carbon partners.

“A total of 13 low carbon zones and 30 low carbon partners received Diamond recognition for GHG emission reduction initiatives in five key elements namely energy, water, waste, mobility and greenery,” he said when officiating the Low Carbon Cities 2030 Challenge (LCC2030C) 2021 award ceremony here today.

Also present was Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) chief executive officer Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor.

Tuan Ibrahim said a total of 33 cities nationwide have been identified under the Low Carbon City Master Plan to achieve high absolute GHG emission reductions.

He said, 70 local authorities had been given exposure to the concept and capacity building through the LCC2030C programme, of which 41 authorities were actively involved in implementing low carbon city initiatives.

“As an incentive to strengthen the implementation of the low carbon city initiatives, the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) has introduced the Low Carbon Cities Catalyst Grant (GeRAK) amounting to RM35 million. This grant will be given to local authorities nationwide,” he said, adding that 18 local authorities in Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak, Perak, Johor and Federal Territories have implemented projects using the allocation.

Tuan Ibrahim said the implementation of GeRAK is expected to involve 146 local companies nationwide with a GHG reduction potential of approximately 110,969 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

He said a total of 141 local authorities had received allocation to implement low carbon city initiatives covering the five key elements in public spaces.

Meanwhile, Shamsul Bahar said the LCC2030C which was introduced in 2011 focuses on aspects of the low carbon cities framework (LCCF) and assessment system.

“The term ‘challenge’ under this initiative refers to the challenge posed on local authorities and organisations to reduce greenhouse gases in their areas of jurisdiction,” he said.

He said the initiative which was launched in 2019 was part of the government’s efforts to increase the application of the LCCF.

The Low Carbon City Challenge award aims at recognising the commitments made by local authorities, government agencies and private organisations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the LCC2030C programme.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) — The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) will help resolve the issue of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for artists and independent art practitioners.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, said that Finas had submitted the planning of the Creative Industry Task Force to the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM) for the improvement of the industry involving the welfare of art practitioners.

“We also want to discuss with the Ministry of Human Resources (KSM) and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) where we can channel advertisement payments to Finas so that it (Finas) can pay the EPF contribution for actors registered with the agency,” he said.

He said this to reporters after presenting contributions to industry practitioners from various artistic backgrounds, in conjunction with the National Artiste Day 2022 celebration at the Merdeka Studio Complex, today.

Also present were K-KOMM deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communications and Creative Industry) Mastura Ahmad Mustafa, Finas chairman, Zakaria Abdul Hamid, representatives of art associations and Muslim art practitioners.

Zahidi said that National Artiste Day 2022 was celebrated to commemorate the contributions of artists who have made a mark in the country’s arts industry.

“We hope that not only great producers (and) actors can be unearthed, but also quality film companies,” he said.

It was previously reported that Communications and Multimedia Minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, had said that the National Artiste Day Celebration would be held on March 22, in conjunction with the date of birth of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee, to commemorate the services and contributions of the country’s great artists.

Meanwhile, Finas chief executive officer, Prof Dr Md Nasir Ibrahim, said that the agency had made it mandatory for all production crews to make EPF contributions for artists, actors and behind-the-scenes workers.

“This is the first step under an agreement between Finas and the recipients of the funds (production crew). The money can be used in old age if they are no longer active in acting,” he said.

Md Nasir also said that Finas would discuss with KSM and MOF to enable art practitioners, especially freelancers, to also make EPF contributions via their employers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency