Category: General

KANGAR, The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is focusing on 22 hotspots, including main roads, protocol roads (frequently used by high-level officials or foreign tourists) and mosques in the state under its special cleaning operation in conjunction with the Aidilfitri celebration this year.

Perlis SWCorp director Shamsuharizal Basir said a total of 34 cleaning machines owned by concessionaire Idaman Environment (E-Idaman) will be involved in the special operation.

“The concessionaire will also provide 30 additional bins, namely 25 central bins and five roro (roll-on-roll-off) bins for the operation this time,’ he said in a statement in conjunction with the launch of the special cleansing operation for the 2024 Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which was officiated by Perlis Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Asrul Aimran Abd Jalil here today.

Shamsuharizal said the special cleaning operation would involve the participation of 93 cleaning staff as well as 20 SWCorp enforceme
nt personnel.

Elaborating, he said the cleaning operation would begin on the eve of Hari Raya from midnight until 7 am and on the first day of Hari Raya from 1 pm to 6 pm to allow the Muslim staff to perform Aidilfitri prayers.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The Election Commission (EC) has set polling day for the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election in Selangor on May 11.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said the nomination day and early voting day are on April 27 and May 7 respectively.

He made the announcement at a media conference after chairing a special meeting at Menara SPR here today to discuss the important dates relating to the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

The state seat fell vacant following the death of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, on March 21.

Lee, 58, became the assemblyman for Kuala Kubu Baharu state constituency which is under the Hulu Selangor Parliamentary seat since 2013 passed away after battling cancer in the past few years.

Commenting further, Abdul Ghani said that overall, the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election required an allocation of RM2.5 million.

According to him, a returning officer assisted by three assistant officers and 760 personnel will be appointed to handle the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

According to Ab
dul Ghani, two election campaign enforcement teams were also established, comprising representatives of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), local authorities and contesting candidates to monitor campaign activities throughout the official campaigning period.

He said the campaign period is set for 14 days after the nomination of candidates on April 27 until 11.59 pm, May 10.

According to him, the electoral roll (DPPR) for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election has a total of 40,226 people consisting of 39,362 ordinary voters, 625 policemen, 238 military personnel and spouses and one overseas absentee voter.

The DPPR for the by-election will go on sale on April 22.

Abdul Ghani said the Nomination Centre (PPC) and the Official Vote Totaling Centre (PPRU) used for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election are the Hulu Selangor Multi-Purpose Hall and the District Sports Complex.

“A total of 18 regular polling stations containing 74 polling channels and two early voting centres with three early voting channels will be deplo
yed,” he said.

Voters can check polling station information, voting channels and series number by visiting the portal at https://mysprsemak.spr.gov.my or contact EC Hotline at 03-8892 7018/7218/7124 or through the MySPR Semak application .

Review of voting information will be opened on April 22.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA NERANG, The Rahmah Sales programme, held for the first time in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at the Kampung Tanjung Piring public field here today, received an extraordinary response, including from the Thai community.

A Bernama survey found that the programme, organised by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), was attended by over 500 residents, with most of them arriving as early as 8 am to get the essential items that were marked 10 to 30 per cent lower than the market prices.

Rubber tapper Nor Madiah Ramli, 49, described the programme as very helpful for most of them, who are mostly rubber tappers.

“I knew about this programme yesterday and came here as early as 9 am to buy the festive essential items. The goods sold here are cheaper. For example, a bag of five-kilogramme rice costs RM14 compared to RM18 in sundry shops.

“I also bought glutinous rice to make ketupat, margarine to bake biscuits and other necessities like sugar and cooking oil which were
all sold at a lower price,’ she said when met here today.

Fifty-two-year-old housewife Aminah Lateh hopes the programme can be held more frequently to assist the residents there.

“Many of us here are poor and when there are such programmes, we feel relieved as we can buy many items at lower prices. We are satisfied (with the programme) and want it to be continued,’ she said.

Meanwhile, Kampung Tanjung Piring Federal Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKP) chairman Muhammad Halim hailed the encouraging response from the residents.

He said various basic items were sold at the programme, including glutinous rice, sardines, flour, chicken, laundry soap, cordial drinks, canned milk, instant noodles and dishwashing liquid.

“Many residents have asked that this (programme) be held more often and retained, especially in rural areas…we like this programme in our village…if we want to go out to buy our daily essentials, the nearest town is Kuala Nerang, which is about 35 kilometres away,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today received a courtesy call from Indonesian president-elect and Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, who is on a special one-day visit to Malaysia.

Prabowo arrived at Perdana Putra, which houses the Prime Minister’s office at 9 am.

This is Prabowo’s first visit to Malaysia after being announced as the official winner of the Indonesian Presidential Election for the 2024-2029 term.

Prabowo and his delegation arrived in the country yesterday. The special plane carrying them landed at the Subang Air Base at 10.15 pm.

During the short visit, Prabowo is also scheduled to attend a closed meeting with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin in Kuala Lumpur.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia today attended the World #QuranHour 2024 programme held at Masjid Negara here.

The Queen arrived at the national mosque at 11.45 am, accompanied by Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek and Karangkraf Media Group advisor cum founder of Warisan Ummah Ikhlas Foundation (WUIF) Datuk Hussamudin Yaacub.

Themed ‘Ummah #GrandReset: Unity and Social Transformation’, the ninth edition of the programme was attended by approximately 4,000 congregants.

The programme began at noon with the recitations of Surah Al-Fatihah and verses 1-5 of Surah Al-Baqarah, followed by the explanation and tadabbur of the selected Surah Al-Jumu’ah.

A sermon was delivered by Deputy Mufti of Perak Datuk Zamri Hashim, while a student from Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Munqiz Mohd Subki led the recitation of the Al-Quran Pledge.

A total of 5,139 hotspots were registered by various organisations for the simultaneous organisation of the programme nationwide.

As of April 3,
eight locations in six countries have been registered as hotspots for the World #QuranHour, namely Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia.

The one-hour programme was broadcast live through Astro Oasis, the official broadcaster of the World #QuranHour, in addition to five other TV stations: RTM, TV9, TV AlHijrah, Bernama TV, and Astro Awani.

The World #QuranHour was organised by WUIF, in collaboration with its strategic partners including USIM, Islamic Tourism Malaysia, the Council of Directors of Public Libraries of Malaysia (MPAM), Akademi Sinergi Ikhlas Sdn Bhd, Rumah Ngaji, and the Selangor Public Library Corporation (PPAS).

Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GEORGE TOWN, Penang recorded a total of 1,592 cases of dengue fever, with two deaths, in the 13th Epidemiological Week (ME13), from March 24 to 30.

The state Health Department (JKNPP) said that the Timur Laut and Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) districts recorded one fatality each.

‘The cumulative number of dengue outbreaks is 165, with the current number being 28, of which Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) recorded the highest number, at 16.

‘SPT recorded two hot spots, namely Taman Nirwana and Kampung Kuala Juru, while one area, Taman Alma Jaya, is an uncontrolled outbreak locality,’ it said in a Facebook post today.

It also said that a hot spot was also recorded in Kampung Badak Mati in SPS, and Taman Sri Pinang in Timur Laut.

JKNPP advises the public to take preventive measures to eradicate mosquito breeding in residential areas and premises.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LABUAN, The Labuan Immigration Department has intensified enforcement to address illegal immigrants and the abuse of social visit passes in the duty-free island.

Its director Raymond Entalai said 11 illegal immigrants were apprehended between the month of March and April 4 in various locations across the island.

He said these arrests were made during a series of operations under Ops Kutip, Ops Dandan, Ops Mahir, Ops Belanja, and Ops Selera.

“We are serious about enforcing immigration laws against undocumented immigrants and those who abuse their social visit passes,” he told Bernama.

During the operations, a total of 149 individuals were screened, with eleven individuals identified as Filipinos and Indonesians found to have violated the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Raymond disclosed from January until today (April 4), a total of 724 individuals were screened across various operations, including Op Sapu, Op Kutip, Op Dandan, Op Gegar, Op Mahir, Op Belanja, Op Selera, Op Jaja, and Op Minyak.

“Since January un
til today, we have arrested 46 undocumented immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia, with 34 already facing charges in court,” he said.

Raymond issued a reminder to employers to ensure that their workers possess valid travel documents, emphasising the importance of compliance with immigration regulations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency