Category: General

SHAH ALAM, March 17 (Bernama) — A state executive councillor today announced plans for speedy implementation as a holistic solution to the problem of flooding in Selangor.

 

Izham Hashim, chairman of the Infrastructure, Public Amenities and Agriculture Modernisation and Agro-based Industry Committee, said the plans included deepening of Sungai Klang and a drainage tunnel leading out of Shah Alam.

 

He was speaking during the winding up of debate in the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.

 

 

Izham said the proposed project to deepen Sungai Klang would involve doubling the depth at the stretch between Kuala Lumpur and Klang, and it would cost over RM500 million.

 

This project could not be delayed because the river was just knee-deep in places, he said.

 

“We have discussed this (deepening the river) with Selangor Maritime Gateway. I will raise the matter with the Selangor Economic Action Council and seek immediate approval. The project will be undertaken by our own government-linked company,” he said.

 

 

The Selangor Maritime Gateway project involves turning Sungai Klang into a new source of economy for the state.

 

Izham also said that there is a proposal to build a tunnel from Shah Alam to drain water from Sungai Damansara to Tasik Ladam near Sungai Rasau in Klang.

 

He said there is also the need for a policy to allow retention ponds in Selangor to be partly drained as the monsoon season sets in or when there is a forecast of heavy rain.

 

In the Sungai Klang downstream area such as Klang, the Hybrid Off-River Augmentation System (HORAS) 3000 and other large ponds will be used to prevent flooding, he said.

 

“This water will then be treated for supply to the Pulau Indah area that is facing a shortage of potable water. The stored water can be used during drought,” he said.

 

In December last year, a tropical depression made landfall resulting in floods in eight states, including Selangor, that left 54 people dead and two missing.

 

The house will sit again tomorrow.

 

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SHAH ALAM, March 17 (Bernama) — Sharp Electronic (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (Sharp Malaysia) today donated 976 units of electrical appliances worth RM383,827 to 100 schools that were affected by recent floods in Selangor and Pahang.

 

Sharp Malaysia provided the electrical appliances to 44 schools in Selangor and 56 schools in Pahang as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MOE).

 

Its managing director Ting Yang Chung said they were saddened to learn of the floods in December last year.

 

 

“We were concerned for our students who were not able to go back to school because their schools were affected by the flood disaster.

 

“Sharp has been in Malaysia for 37 years and we have grown into a familiar and reliable name in households across the country. For this, we want to express our support to Malaysia, especially towards our young generation who are not able to go to school because of the pandemic and then, the floods,” he said in his speech at a ceremony to hand over the donation here today.

 

The ceremony was officiated by Deputy Education Minister 1 Senator Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

 

 

He added that the schools selected for this initiative were shortlisted by the Selangor and Pahang state education departments.

 

Ting said the items donated included ceiling fans, stand fans, air-conditioners, kettles, refrigerators and televisions.

 

He said Sharp Malaysia was providing smart classroom solutions at five selected schools to enhance digital teaching and hybrid learning among teachers and students.

 

Meanwhile, Mah said the objective of the initiative was to ensure that students affected by the floods and pandemic could continue with their lessons.

 

“This cooperation with private companies like Sharp Malaysia is important to provide students with the necessary facilities to give them a comfortable learning environment,” he added.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) — About 50 of the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) staff and their family members were given the COVID-19 booster dose at a booster vaccination programme held at Wisma Bernama here today.

 

The programme held with the cooperation of Jogohealth Stroke and Physiotherapy Centre is one of the steps the news agency has taken to show its concern for the health of its employees and their family members in the COVID-19 pandemic era.

 

When met at the programme, Bernama chairman Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi said as an agency that is also in the front line, Bernama also emphasised the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted not only among its employees but also their family members.

 

 

Meanwhile, Bernama employee Nur Syafiqah Azdha Mahamad Subri, 24, said she hoped an outreach programme like this can help raise the confidence of Bernama staff and their family members to get the booster shot and get protection from being infected by COVID-19.

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BAGAN SERAI (Perak), March 17 (Bernama) — The Perak government has requested owners/operators of poultry farms not to procrastinate over the need to switch from open farming to a closed system by 2024 to eliminate the issues of foul smell and flies.

 

State Plantations, Agriculture and Food Industries Committee chairman Razman Zakaria said the matter would remain unresolved come 2024 if the farm owners or operators adopted a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude.

 

He spoke to reporters after a working visit today to two poultry farms, in Kubu Gajah, Selama, and Changkat Lobak, Bagan Seri.

 

 

Razman, who is the state assemblyman for Gunung Semanggol, said the state government would step up enforcement by directing the Veterinary Services Department to act against fly infestation at poultry farms.

 

The action to be taken now is the imposition of a fine of RM2,000 in accordance with the Poultry Farming Enactment 2005, he said, adding that the state government is drafting a new enactment that will raise the fine to RM20,000.

 

The state government announced last year that it wants all poultry farms in Perak to switch to the closed system over a period of three years to reduce fly infestation that has become a bother for nearby residents.

 

 

A check revealed that about 1,000 residents of 600 houses in Kampung Changkat Lobak have been putting up with the flies from several poultry farms for over 20 years.

 

Mohd Ridzuan Zulkifli, 33, a member of the Kampung Changkat Lobak Development and Security Committee, said the flies are a nuisance as they settle on their food and pose a problem at mealtimes.

 

It is embarrassing when we have visitors and they see the flies swarming around, he said.

 

 

Source: BERNAMA News Agency