Cambodia News Gazette

The King and Queen of Malaysia, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, today posted birthday greetings to the Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on the occasion of his 62nd birthday.

It was posted on Sultan Ibrahim’s official Facebook page.

‘Happy 62nd birthday to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.

‘May Allah SWT bless His Royal Highness with happiness and long life,’ the poster read.

April 26 is a public holiday for Terengganu in conjunction with the Sultan’s birthday.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

There are no plans to open or operate any casinos in the state, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said.

He said the news is merely a rumour intended for sabotage and to maliciously tarnish the image of Forest City and the state of Johor as a whole.

He reiterated that the Johor state government is confident that Forest City will be revitalised and economic activities will flourish with the development of the Special Financial Zone (SFZ) and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).

“In addition, with the support of the federal government, the state government is actively working to boost and enhance Johor’s economy to provide positive impacts, such as creating quality and high-skilled job opportunities for the people of Johor.

“From a historical perspective, it is evident that since the reign of the late Sultan Sir Ibrahim, three casinos in Johor have been closed,” he said in a Facebook post today.

Onn Hafiz said that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim King of Malaysia has declared that he does
not permit the opening of any casinos in Johor, clearly indicating Johor’s stance on this matter.

He added that the state government has never received any invitations for discussions on this matter, let alone being involved or consulted.

“With this clarification, it is hoped that this issue will no longer be prolonged and sensationalised to the extent that it affects the harmony and reputation of the state, he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will be returning the allowance he received as the chairman of Khazanah Nasional Berhad, reiterating that he does not draw a salary for the position of Prime Minister that he has held since November 2022.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said he declined to accept the allowance and salary as long as the country’s economy has not fully recovered.

‘Earlier, I chaired the Khazanah meeting… apparently (as) the chairman (of Khazanah) and as Prime Minister, there are allowances and I was not aware.

‘After a few months, the allowance (for meetings) was deposited into my bank account, and I informed them that I would not be taking it. I had to return the Khazanah allowance and instructed them not to pay my meeting allowance,” he said after an event to handover contributions from the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) here today.

In his first media conference as prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, Anwar said he would not accept a salary for the position and described
it as a first step to gaining the people’s confidence in his leadership.

Anwar said he works passionately because he has faced significant challenges in life, and these experiences have motivated him to dedicate himself to improving the lives of the people.

‘I have experienced extreme hardship and suffering, which has taught me that when in power, I should do my best to help uplift the fate of the people.

‘That’s why I say, I am not from a wealthy family and I do not take a salary as a prime minister. Some people say I don’t take a prime minister’s salary and (instead) take a salary as finance minister. That is not true,” he clarified.

On hardcore poverty, he noted that the government has addressed the issue in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Penang, Perak and Johor.

‘We are working towards addressing it in other states as well,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar urged young people, especially from the Indian community, to continue their education and explore new fields such as digital transfor
mation and artificial intelligence.

‘Do not forget to study hard in order to achieve success and always remember that the goal of education is to acquire knowledge as best as possible,’ he said.

Anwar also announced an allocation of RM2 million to Tafe College in Seremban, which was developed by the late Tun S. Samy Vellu.

At the event, a total of 671 individuals received scholarships and loans through MIED with an allocation of over RM15 million.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who is on a three-day working visit to Perlis, has presented donations from the KasihHAWANA Fund to two former media practitioners facing health challenges.

The recipients are former Perlis FM announcer Rahmah Ahmad, 72 and former Bernama stringer Ramli Ismail, 74.

Rahmah, who retired in 2010, has been undergoing dialysis treatment three times a week for the past two years, in addition to having blocked arteries.

‘I am touched by the gesture. I didn’t believe it when I was told that the minister would visit an old retiree like me. I appreciate the concern,’ she told Bernama at her home in Kuala Perlis, near here.

Rahmah served 30 years in the Malaysian Broadcasting Department (RTM) from 1974 until 1991 before being transferred to the state as Perlis FM announcer.

Ramli, who was attached to Utusan Malaysia in Kedah from 1972 until 1995 before working for Bernama from 1997 until 2021, said he has high blood pressure.

‘I hope that my media practitioner colleagues will
continue to carry out their duties well in today’s world, which is full of challenges,’ said Ramli, who is living with his wife, Rokiah Nor, 70, in Taman Guru Jaya, here.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said he hoped the contribution would bring joy to those involved in the media industry, whether retired or unwell.

‘It is also hoped to strengthen ties and show that media veterans are never forgotten,’ he said.

On the contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) for stringers, Fahmi said the ministry would speed up the initiative to safeguard their welfare, as announced previously.

‘We have implemented it in the film sector. Those involved in journalism are next,’ he said.

Rahmah and Ramli are among the 57 media practitioners who have benefitted from the initiative since it was established in April last year.

Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Broadcasting Department director-general Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive offic
er Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Bernama editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj were also present.

was established in conjunction with the 2023 National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) celebration to reach out to media practitioners, former media personnel and veteran journalists in need.

It is an initiative by the Communications Ministry and implemented through Bernama as a continuous effort to help the media community face difficulties and life challenges.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today said the Terengganu government’s decision to reject the Territorial Sea Act 2012 through a motion passed in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday, has been seen as a cynical and hypocritical act.

Fahmi, who is also the spokesperson for the Unity Government, said it was because there were no PAS lawmakers from Terengganu who objected to the bill when it was tabled, debated and passed in the Dewan Rakyat before.

‘I took note of Datuk Seri Menteri Besar’s (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar) statement through a post on Facebook yesterday and I took the opportunity to check and study the hansard or the official statement of the Dewan Rakyat on April 18, 2012, when the Territorial Sea Bill 2012 was tabled, debated and passed.

‘During the debate session, which took about two or three hours, there were 21 Members of Parliament (MPs) who participated in the debate on the Territorial Sea Bill.

‘But, there was not a single MP from Terengganu, especially from PAS
, including the Marang MP, involved in the debate at that time,’ he said after visiting the Northern Zone Fibre Optic Point of Presence (PoP) Network Hub here today.

Fahmi said that although several PAS MPs did participate in the debate, they were from Kelantan and not Terengganu.

Therefore, he said Ahmad Samsuri needs to ask Marang MP Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang the reason he did not use the opportunity at that time to protest against the bill.

‘Don’t be a hypocrite, the Menteri Besar of Terengganu needs to ask the Marang MP why when this bill was debated, he kept his silent and if his issue was about power, then why was not a single thing done in the 33 months of PAS being involved in the government in Putrajaya,’ he said.

Fahmi said Ahmad Samsuri should sit down and discuss with the federal government, especially Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to find a solution to the matter.

Yesterday, the Terengganu State Assembly unanimously passed a motion to reject the Territorial Sea Act 2012 (Act 750), c
iting its infringement on the state’s rights to explore resources and generate revenue within its maritime borders.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency