Category: General

KUALA LUMPUR, The retail prices of RON97 and RON95 petrol as well as diesel will remain unchanged at RM3.47, RM2.05 and RM2.15 per litre, respectively, from tomorrow until May 15.

The Finance Ministry, in a statement today, said the prices were fixed based on the weekly retail pricing of petroleum products using the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.

‘To protect consumers from the increase of global oil price, the government will maintain the ceiling price of RON95 at RM2.05 per litre and diesel at RM2.15 per litre, even though the market price for both products has increased beyond the current ceiling price,’ it said.

The statement also said the government will continue to monitor the global crude oil price trends and take appropriate measures to ensure the continued welfare and well-being of the people.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Four monorail stations – Bukit Nanas, Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang and Imbi – will be temporarily closed for cleaning and repair works after an uprooted tree smashed onto the monorail track today.

Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail) in a statement tonight said the service provider would carry out initiatives for alternative service for commuters to continue their journey to their respective destinations starting 6am tomorrow (May 8).

‘Four monorail stations will be closed to the public because the power supply need to be shutdown to allow workers to carry out the cleaning process,’ said the statement.

The statement added that to support the alternative services, passengers and commuters can continue their journey using Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus) shuttle that will be in service for free, and commuters can travel from station to station that are affected.

Rapid Rail also urged passengers affected by the unpredictable incident to use alternative modes of transport to reach their destinations.

In
a statement today, Rapid Rail advised passengers to use alternative services in the interim and apologised for the inconvenience.

Earlier, the DBKL Kuala Lumpur Command and Control Centre (KLCCC) stated that 30 DBKL personnel from four departments, including traffic wardens, its rescue squad, and Urban Transport, had been mobilised to the site and assisted the traffic police and Fire and Rescue Department personnel.

Cleaning works are being carried out by Rapid Rail with the assistance of DBKL.

At about 2pm today, a thunderstorm caused an uprooted tree on Jalan Sultan Ismail near the Concorde Hotel to smash into the KL Monorail track and crashed onto 17 vehicles, killing a 47-year-old man while two others were injured.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GUA MUSANG, The Air Unit of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) conducted a medical evacuation (medevac) flight, by bringing a one-year-old Orang Asli boy from Pos Balar to seek treatment at Gua Musang Hospital, yesterday.

JBPM Subang Central Region public relations officer Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohd Rizzan Jefri said that the patient, Rafifarizi Amin, was suffering from cough and cold for two days, and was accompanied by his mother Tini Alang, 34, on board the Mi-17-IV aircraft.

He said that the patient needed immediate oxygen administration.

‘The flight crew first picked up two health personnel at the Gua Musang Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) before continuing the 15-minute flight to Balar Post to pick up the patient.

‘The patient suffered from a lung problem or ‘Bronchopnemonia’, therefore initial respiratory assistance was administered as soon as the crew arrived at the village,’ he said in a statement today.

Mohd Rizzan said despite rainy weather, the assignment was successfully
carried out and the patient was flown from Pos Balar to BBP Gua Musang before being handed over to the health staff who were waiting there.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Muslim scholars, leaders and scientists need to work together to achieve the goal of ummah unity and resolve any conflicts that occur in society, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

In his welcoming speech at the Asian Ulama Council 2024 here today, he said that in making the mission of ummah unity a success, scholars, leaders and scientists need to set an example by showing unity among themselves first.

‘Thus, the organisation of the Ulama Council 2024 is part of an effort to bring unity among Islamic leaders and scholars and then reveal it to Muslims so that it can be adapted into the community lives,’ he said.

Mohd Na’im said Muslims need to be made aware that efforts to achieve unity need to cross the walls of various schools of thought and ideologies with the goal of achieving the welfare of the ummah and rejecting extremist and extreme beliefs.

He noted that differences should be viewed as advantages instead of weaknesses,
while similarities should be used as a source of strength.

‘Indeed, the glory of the Muslim Ummah and the ups and downs of a community, nation or country lies in its unity,’ he said.

Mohd Na’im expressed hope that the Asian Ulama Council 2024, which convenes 200 Muslim scholars from across Asia, can open a wider scope of cooperation, agreement and better understanding among Islamic scholars, leaders and scientists in the future.

He emphasised that agreement among Islamic scholars, leaders and scientists in dealing with extreme actions and rejecting all forms of ideology contrary to Islamic teachings will help foster unity in society.

‘It is hoped that this council will be able to achieve the objectives that have been outlined. Thus, it will become the basis for the harmony of life, understanding, the spirit of cooperation, the value of simplicity (wasatiyyah) and a stronger unity among the Muslim community.

‘It will become the foundation of the unity of the community of multiple religions and races in li
ne with the civil society idea highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,’ he said.

The event was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the presence of Muslim World League (MWL) secretary-general and Organisation of Muslim Scholars chairman Sheikh Dr Mohammed Abdulkarim Al-Issa.

It was organised by the Office of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) in collaboration with MWL.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The appointment of the chairman of the Public Service Commission (SPA) will be made after the Conference of Rulers meeting.

The matter was confirmed by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali after Tan Sri Zainal Rahim Seman’s tenure as SPA chairman ended on July 24, last year. Zainal Rahim served the commission since July 25, 2018.

‘It will be brought to the meeting of the Conference of Rulers, and will be decided later,’ Mohd Zuki told the media after attending the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM) MADANI Aidilfitri open house, today.

The nearly 10-month vacancy prompted all SPA meetings involving the recruitment, promotions and termination of civil servants to be chaired by SPA deputy chairman Datuk Seri Jalil Marzuki.

However, for recruitment, promotion and disciplinary matters involving members of the judicial and legal services, the chairman of the SPA shall also serve as the chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (SPKP), as stipulated in Article 138 o
f the Federal Constitution.

Meanwhile, when asked about Tan Sri Azam Baki’s contract as chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), he said that a statement would be issued regarding the matter.

‘I will ask the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim),’ he said.

Azam took compulsory retirement in May last year and was reappointed as chief commissioner for a period of one year, and his tenure ends this Sunday.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The trees around Jalan Sultan Ismail here have the potential of falling following an incident where a large tree toppled during heavy rain and strong winds yesterday afternoon.

Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) president Associate Professor Dr Nor Atiah Ismail said it was because the tree root chain in the area was interconnected and had an impact on the durability of the trees.

Besides, the current uncertain weather factor in Kuala Lumpur can also contribute to incidents of fallen trees around the area.

“If we saw a fallen tree yesterday, it was the first sign of trees around the area to (risk) also fall. This is because the roots of the trees as we know are tangled and joined on the left and right.

“This root chain is actually very strong, but if one falls (like) yesterday it is actually a sign of an emergency. So mitigation needs to be done as soon as possible so that yesterday’s incident does not happen again,” she said while appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Malaysia
Petang Ini programme today.

In this regard, Nor Atiah welcomes the desire of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to review the guidelines for the preservation of old trees around the capital, as announced by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa yesterday.

Nor Atiah suggested that the guidelines to be established should be in line with city planning and there is a need to provide a database for each tree planted.

“In today’s age of technology, we also need to digitise the landscape by having a large database. So every tree we plant (whether it’s 30, 50, 70 to a hundred years old) needs to have a suitable database.

“ILAM has voiced this matter to DBKL, for us to digitise the trees in Kuala Lumpur and (to be) updated regularly… because these trees are living things and will change so we can’t treat them like other infrastructure .

“With this database, we can monitor the tree’s needs periodically, including the health of the tree itself,” he said.

At 2.19 pm ye
sterday, a tree over 50 years old fell on Jalan Sultan Ismail, killing one man and injuring two others, besides damaging 17 vehicles and disrupting monorail services.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia has announced the enforcement of a penalty of 10,000 Riyals (SAR10,000) for violating the rules and instructions of the Hajj season, including entering seven areas without a Hajj permit. (SAR1=RM1.2)

Through an infographic shared by the ministry on the platform X, formerly Twitter, the seven areas are Makkah, the Central Region, Masayir, the Haramain train station in Rusayfah, security control centres, isolation centres and a temporary security control centre.

“The penalty will be in effect from June 2 to 20, 2024”, according to the ministry.

The ministry explained that a penalty of SAR10,000 will be imposed on all individuals, including citizens, residents and visitors who are caught in the geographical areas without a Hajj permit.

In addition, non-citizens who are arrested will be deported and banned from entering Saudi Arabia for a period stipulated under the law.

The ministry also stressed the importance of complying with Hajj rules and instruct
ions, with offenders facing double fines for repeated offences.

“This is to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims in performing their worship remains a priority,” it said.

Saudi Arabian government law stipulates that violation of Hajj rules and instructions can lead to imprisonment of up to six months and a fine of up to SAR50,000.

The vehicle used when an offence was committed will be confiscated.

Individuals transporting offenders, if expatriates, will be deported after the execution of the sentence and prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia for a period set by the law, in addition to facing the risk of a double fine.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency