Day: March 9, 2024

KOTA KINABALU, Firefighters from both the Kota Kinabalu and Lintas Fire Stations had to trek one kilometre before commencing firefighting operations in Kampung Saga, Menggatal, near here today.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Hamsa Isnurdini said in the 11am incident, the teams realised there was no access for fire engines to enter the location.

As a result, the 12-member team from Kota Kinabalu BBP and eight members from Lintas BBP had to walk while carrying the necessary equipment.

He said four houses built over water were completely destroyed in the fire, while two houses sustained 10 per cent damage and hree others were saved using water from open pipes in the nearby area.

“A man named Dadin in his 40s, who suffered burns on his face during the fire, was sent to the hospital, while another man, also in his 40s, sustained hand injuries and received on-site treatment,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the fire was brought under control at 11.15 am and the op
eration ended at 12.06 noon.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, As of February this year, a total of 43 projects comprising 26,154 residential units have been completed under the Residensi Wilayah initiative, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

She said that another 23 projects with 23,441 residential units are currently under construction.

‘Insya-Allah, these projects are expected to be completed from this year until 2027,’ she said during a key handover ceremony to buyers of Residensi Wilayah SkyAwani 5 here today.

During the ceremony, Dr Zaliha presented house keys to 20 buyers of SkyAwani 5, one of the projects under the Residensi Wilayah initiative.

Residensi Wilayah, spearheaded by the Federal Territories Department, aims to provide affordable homes throughout the Federal Territories, especially for low- to middle-income earners.

Under this initiative, the government collaborates with housing developers, employing cross-subsidy methods to provide homes with a minimum size of 800 square feet, p
riced below RM300,000 per unit.

Commenting on SkyAwani 5, Dr Zaliha said the project made history as the first affordable housing project equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities for its residents.

She said the project has also set a new benchmark within the affordable housing sector by providing over 20 facilities including a gymnasium, swimming pool, coworking space and game room, thereby enriching the living experience for its occupants.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

GURUN, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has expressed hope for increased student participation in uniformed bodies like the scouts, aiming to instil in them strong humanitarian values and discipline.

She said students need to be continuously encouraged to participate in such organisations, which can contribute to their holistic development.

Fadhlina also said that the Education Ministry is looking forward to a smooth start of the 2024/2025 school session, which will begin in several states tomorrow.

‘All necessary preparations have been made by both state education departments and district education offices to welcome students, especially newcomers, to school,’ she told reporters after the Star and Medal Presentation Ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Kedah Scouts during the state Scout Teachers’ Aspiration Ceremony here today.

At the event, Fadhlina was also awarded the Kedah Scout Centenary Star in recognition of her dedication and as an encouragement to continue serving the movement and
the community.

Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu will begin the 2024/2025 schooling session tomorrow, while other states will start on Monday.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TAIPING, The Transport Ministry has opened a Request For Proposal (RFP) to continue with the Ipoh Railway Integrated Development (iRide) plan based on the concept of transport on demand (TOD).

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said RFP is only open to public participation in the short term of between two to three months before it is evaluated after the project has been postponed.

According to him, the government is giving attention to the iRide project as it is expected to generate a positive multiplier effect on Perak’s economy.

“Currently MOT has given priority to this project and is only waiting for the RFP because it has been delayed since it was launched in October 2019, and then there was a change in government besides the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Despite the delay, the government basically intends to continue this project as soon as possible and the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah has been infomed of the progress of the project when I spoke to him recently as he hoped the project can continue,” Loke
told media here today.

Earlier, Loke inaugurated the Taiping Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman Community Centre which was also attended by Housing and Local Government Minister, Nga Kor Ming who is also Perak DAP chairman and Deputy Education Minister, Wong Kah Woh who is also Taiping Member of Parliament.

Previously, the iRide development plan covering an area of 78 hectares around Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) Ipoh station was launched on Oct 10, 2019.

The collaboration project of the Railway Asset Corporation (RAC) and Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) is expected to develop an area of 27 hectares in an integrated manner as a transport hub.

Development in the area is broken down according to specific segments including affordable housing, hotels, educational institutions, commercial, green and mixed areas to ensure this development is balanced and comprehensive.

Meanwhile, Loke said MOT together with KTMB will relaunch the special KL-Ipoh ETS Express service operation outside the festive
season in the near future.

“The express train will operate outside the festive season, daily with at least one or two trains per day.

“The re-introduction of the express service will help those who often go back and forth in a day between the two cities, as it shortens the travel time from two hours and 40 minutes to just two hours,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, The government has approved an RM1 billion allocation to the Ministry of Education to implement projects under the Fourth Rolling Plan for Terengganu, said Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

He said 83 projects, including 26 new projects and 57 continuation projects, would be implemented with the allocation.

‘For the Kuala Terengganu district, seven new projects worth RM35 million have been approved, while seven continuation projects valued at RM80 million are underway,’ he said at the launching of Terengganu’s Education Transformation Champion at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Sulaiman, here, today.

Terengganu state secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Farok Hussin Tengku Abdul Jalil was also present.

At the ceremony, 100 asnaf students received a zakat contribution from Telekom Malaysia, totalling RM30,000.

Mohd Zuki also urged more government-linked companies to develop technology-based learning ecosystems to reduce dependence on government allocations, particularly
in providing technology-based infrastructure.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency