Day: March 9, 2024

TAWAU, The Kalabakan parliamentary community service centre has allocated RM200,000 to rebuild three wooden bridges ruined in a fire at Kampung Tanjung Batu Laut Logpond, a water village on Wednesday.

Sabah Assistant Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy, also Kalabakan MP, said the bridges were a basic necessity for the water villagers that serve as the main road link for their homes.

‘After the bridges are built, I believe other matters will be addressed and will follow suit,’ he told reporters after handing over aid to the victims at the temporary relief centre at the multipurpose hall of the Tawau Sports Complex here today.

The state assemblyman for Tanjung Batu said he would find ways to help lighten their burdens, including applying for the Rumah Mesra Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ).

‘The allocation for the SMJ houses is only 20 units per state assembly, of which there are already applicants,’ he said, adding that, to help the victims, he would try to subm
it a request to the state government on Monday.

Meanwhile, he said victims were allowed to rebuild their homes at the original site as the area where the fire broke out had been gazetted.

‘However, we may collaborate with the urban planning authorities to redraw and replot the area,’ he added.

On Wednesday, 350 victims were made homeless after a fire destroyed 52 houses in the village.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA TERENGGANU, There is no necessity for the government to revive the Civil Service Tribunal, said Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

Mohd Zuki said that all matters or concerns regarding civil servants are comprehensively addressed in the Public Officers Regulations, which cover every aspect of their service and administration.

He added that besides the Public Officers Regulations, any action, dispute, or issue arising in relation to a specific matter can also be addressed by referring to the existing circulars.

‘The current disciplinary committees and circulars are already sufficient. Any action or matter can be addressed by referring to these circulars,” he told the media at a ceremony to launch Terengganu Education Department’s transformational leadership plan at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Sultan Sulaiman here today.

He said this in response to inquiries about the proposal from the Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board Workers’ Union to reintroduce the Civil Service Tribu
nal, which was abolished on Jan 1, 2000.

The Civil Service Tribunal was initially established by the government under the Public Services Tribunal Act 1977.

Its primary function was to address matters concerning salaries, terms and conditions of service arisng from changes in the remuneration scheme.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA NERUS, The Ministry of Health (MOH) will mobilise about 1,000 of its enforcement personnel to monitor the preparation and cleanliness of food at the Ramadan bazaars throughout the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry will also work with the local government authorities to ensure the cleanliness of food and bazaars, as well as ensure all the food handlers involved have been vaccinated against Typhoid.

“Those who go to (Ramadan) bazaars also need to know about identifying the quality and safety of food sold such as observing the physical condition of the food and the smell to ensure the food is not stale,’ he told reporters after opening the Terengganu Wellness Hub at the Seberang Takir Health Clinic grounds, here today.

The ministry, he said, would also place a special QR code platform at all Ramadan bazaars to make it easier for the public to channel reports or complaints.

Meanwhile, Dr Dzulkefly also reminded the public to take the necessary precautions to avoid
the spread of COVID-19 during the fasting month.

Although the ministry does not expect an explosion of COVID-19 cases, appropriate measures such as wearing a face mask is necessary, he said.

“Do not go to crowded places, like the Ramadan bazaar, if you are unwell or have symptoms such as coughing,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu has assured adequate chicken and meat supply to meet the demand for the month of Ramadan and during the Aidilfitri festive season.

He said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), together with relevant ministries and agencies, will ensure that the supply of essential goods is sufficient.

“If the supply is inadequate, we can import goods as we have established agreements with exporting nations like Thailand and China,” he told reporters after officiating the Sabah International Food Expo 2024 (SIFEX2024) at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today.

Mohamad said that this year, the ministry is placing emphasis on the development of four key industries, namely padi and rice; poultry and eggs; red onion; and pineapple, to ensure ongoing progress, address food security challenges, and enhance economic growth in the agricultural sector.

“Currently, the country’s chicken supply is stable, but we cannot
solve the problem if our ringgit remains relatively low. Importing food from abroad in dollars can lead to an increase in import costs.

“As for the supply of eggs, it is sufficient, but we still import them, and we hope the breeders will ramp up their production efforts. For this festive season, the ministry will work with relevant agencies to ensure sufficient food supplies,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mohamad emphasised the importance of achieving a 100 per cent self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for rice to secure an adequate rice supply for the people.

“Currently, the national SSR stands at 65 per cent…but the goal of reaching 100 percent SSR can be achieved due to the ample land available, for example in Sabah, Sarawak, and Pahang.

“To ensure that we can achieve 100 percent SSR, we can also learn how to properly plant and fertilise. Other nations can get up to more than 10 tonnes of rice in one hectare, but we in Malaysia can only get three to five tonnes of rice in one hectare,” he said.

In the meantime, Moha
mad Sabu, who is also the Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president, expressed hope that his party would stand a chance to field its candidates in the upcoming Sabah State Election.

When asked if Amanah still had a chance given that the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP previously had greater opportunities to field candidates in Sabah, he said it could be done through negotiations.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, The construction of a canal to divert water from Sungai Sarawak to Sungai Salak here is among the solutions suggested to solve flooding issues in Kuching.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the project was now in the planning stage.

‘With the canal, water is no longer concentrated in Sungai Sarawak but will be diverted to other areas in Sungai Salak.

‘The design process is being conducted by the Sarawak Department of Irrigation and Drainage, and when it’s completed we will issue a tender and perhaps next year, construction work will begin,’ he told reporters after attending the Petra Jaya Back2School programme here today.

Floods had hit the southern area of Sarawak from March 2 to 5, causing over 1,000 people to be evacuated to relief centres.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency