Day: March 9, 2024

PETALING JAYA, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri wants women empowerment initiatives to be redoubled so that women do not get left behind in facing economic and social challenges.

She said many women face the dilemma of whether to continue their careers or sacrifice by leaving their jobs to fulfill their responsibilities to their families.

“Although women dominate men in universities, only 56.2 percent of the female population are employed, compared to 81.9 percent of men.

“Women in the age group of 30 to 39 are more likely to leave their jobs permanently due to family commitments,” she said during her speech at the International Women’s Day Celebration 2024, held here tonight.

Also present at the celebration were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his wife Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Dr. Noraini Ahmad, and Cabinet members.

Nancy said that women aged 60 years old and above c
onstitute the majority of recipients of financial assistance from the government because they do not have economic safety nets.

Furthermore, she said the World Bank reported this week that if all economic barriers for women were removed, the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) could increase by as much as 20 percent.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

MELAKA, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh headed the list of 300 recipients of the national-level Federation of Scouts Association of Malaysia (PPM) honours and awards ceremony at Balai Istiadat, Seri Negeri here today.

Ab Rauf received the Bintang Semangat Padi-Perak (BSP-Perak), which was presented by Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam.

Present was National Chief Scout Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Zin Bidin.

Also receiving the BSP-Perak, which is the second-highest PPM award, was National Scout Council (MPN) deputy president Datuk Ahmad Shazily Ismail Bakti.

BSP-Perak is an esteemed award bestowed upon distinguished figures among state, national and scout leaders for their remarkable contributions.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of awards to 15 PPM foreign representatives from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Earlier, in his speech at the ceremony, Ab Rauf expressed hope that the conferment of PPM honours and awards would serve as a source of motivation
and a morale booster for the recipients to continue providing excellent service, particularly in the effort to foster a Malaysia Madani society.

He emphasised the crucial role played by the scouting movement in shaping future leaders and producing visionary, capable, and responsible individuals who contribute positively to religion and the nation.

“On behalf of the state government, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the commitment and values demonstrated in every programme and activity conducted by the scouting movement in this country.

“I believe this effort will enhance positive values such as cooperation, creativity, social awareness, and leadership capabilities,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEBERANG JAYA, The Hospital Seberang Jaya (HSJ) upgrading project, which began in 2016, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar said the project has encountered some delay but is now expected to be operational by the end of this year.

“I have been briefed on the status of this hospital, and I have identified several urgent needs that require special assistance.

“So, I have approved RM1 million for the purchase of ventilator machines, water tanks, ultrasound equipment and a lactation room at HSJ,” he told reporters after visiting HSJ here today.

The HSJ upgrading project, which costs nearly RM500 million, is to enhance bed facilities, the intensive care unit and parking spaces.

Meanwhile, HSJ director Dr Saiful Azlan Sharif expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s concern and approval of additional funds for upgrades and the acquisition of equipment to meet the hospital’s pressing needs.

“We made requests before, and today the Prime Mi
nister visited the hospital and approved an allocation of RM1 million.

“This allocation is for upgrading water tanks as well as acquiring ultrasound units in the paediatric ward and the lactation room,” he said.

Commenting on the progress of the new block construction at HSJ, Dr Saiful said the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

“This new block is a multi-storey building with new facilities, and some of the existing hospital services will also be relocated there.

“So far, the project is 92 per cent complete, and according to a Public Works Department (JKR) report, it is expected to be completed on Dec 12,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will meet with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on Monday regarding amendments to the party’s constitution.

Bersatu’s extraordinary general meeting on March 2 approved amendments to the party’s constitution regarding the cessation of membership for elected representatives who support any party contrary to Bersatu’s interests.

Muhyiddin said he hoped RoS would give fair consideration and approve the amendments as soon as possible.

“Myself, along with several top leaders, will present the decisions reached at the extraordinary general meeting and the constitutional amendments,” he told reporters after the Perikatan Nasional (PN) Elected Representatives Convention 2024, here today.

The amendments involve three provisions under Clause 10 of the party’s Constitution relating to the termination and expulsion of members with the incorporation of additional Clauses 0.4, 10.5 and 10.6.

Clause 10.4 stipulates that any Bersatu member holding a position in th
e Dewan Rakyat or state legislative assemblies who fails to adhere to directives issued by the party’s supreme council as outlined in Clause 10.5 shall have their Bersatu membership automatically revoked.

Clause 10.5 empowers the Bersatu Supreme Council to issue written directives to any or all of its Dewan Rakyat or state legislative assembly members.

Clause 10.6 refers to Clause 10.4, where the Secretary-General, upon the directive of the Supreme Leadership Council, shall notify the concerned member that their membership has ceased immediately and that their name has been removed from the party’s membership registration system.

Bersatu had sought to amend the party’s constitution following the actions of six of its Members of Parliament who declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim without resigning from the party.

They are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang),
Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

On Thursday, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, Selat Klang assemblyman, declared his support for the leadership of Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

In addition, Muhyiddin, who is also PN chairman said the one-day convention had concluded 20 resolutions including to strengthen the education ecosystem, empower social protection, enhance unity among PN member parties and solidify the formulation of party strategies and action plans.

“In this convention, we discussed many issues in depth, touching on all aspects related to the party, government administration, and the roles of representatives from the parliamentary level down to state legislative assemblies and the Senate.

“We are confident that this convention can strengthen our cooperation within PN, and the resolutions reached today will be recognised as the foundation and core of PN,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LENGGONG, The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) and three other ministries are expected to meet in two weeks to discuss the development of a framework for a rare earth element (REE) business model.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the other three ministries are the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.

He said the meeting would be held to discuss the entire spectrum of the REE business model including the proposed establishment of a Government-Linked Company (GLC) to explore and regulate the industry.

“As I said the government is looking at this matter. So, in the meeting we will look at things from upstream to downstream of the REE business model in accordance with the existing constitutional framework,” he told reporters after the proclamation of Lenggong as a Geopark by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah here today.

Meanwhile
, touching on the geopark, Nik Nazmi said NRES through the Department of Minerals and Geosciences (JMG) is working with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to create a Geoguide License for Geoparks under the Tourism Industry Act, 1992 (Act 482).

“A total of 229 geoguides have passed the Eco-Host course organised by MOTAC and JMG, which is one of the prerequisites for the geoguide license.

“At Lenggong Geopark itself, a total of 23 geoguides have passed the course,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency