Day: May 4, 2024

KANGAR, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has given the assurance that salary increase for civil servants starting this December, as announced two days ago, can be implemented through strict financial management.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the projected salary adjustment, estimated to cost over RM10 billion from next year onward, is feasible with disciplined financial oversight.

‘Despite our nation’s RM1.5 trillion debt and a 5.6 per cent deficit, which is expected to reduce to 5 per cent this year, and Insya-Allah, further next year, how can we proceed with this salary increase? It’s because we can exercise control over the nation’s financial management.

‘I believe there is blessing and benefit if we remain strict and rigid when it comes to this. While many are grateful, critics argue that a 15 per cent increase isn’t the highest, considering there was previously a 35 per cent increase.

The prime minister said this in his keynote address at the 9th Series of Perkampungan Sunnah progr
amme here tonight.

Anwar said the people have to consider that the 15 per cent quoted was just a general figure, and the increase could be much higher in certain cases.

He said the decision to raise civil servant salaries is a fair reward and aims to enhance their understanding of duties and discipline.

‘How can we encourage society? Enhance understanding, work diligently, maintain police and military discipline; if they are not fairly rewarded, then I am responsible for ensuring this can be implemented,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Anwar urged Islamic leaders to boldly address and express their views on the current atrocities against Palestinians.

‘The recent developments in Gaza highlight the diminishing voices of Islamic leaders and the waning efforts to take a resolute stance against oppression.

‘As a consequence, the audacity of Zionist Israel persists with the backing of several Western nations, particularly the United States. While I represent a modest nation with moderate economic strength, I cannot co
ndone this apathy and allow it to perpetuate,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Donors and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to a replenishment of US$5 billion for the bank’s Asian Development Fund (ADF) and its Technical Assistance Special Fund.

Replenished every four years, the development fund of US$4.1 billion for 2025-2028 will provide eligible members including Cambodia with the ‘largest-ever volume of ADF grants,’ the bank said.

In a statement released Friday, the ADB said the agreement was reached during the bank’s annual meeting in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi which is running from May 2 to 5.

The ADF is the bank’s largest source of grants for its poorest and most vulnerable member countries.

In Southeast Asia, ADF grants in the upcoming four-year period will be available for “transformative projects’ in Cambodia, Laos and Timor-Leste, the bank said. Grants will also be available to ‘support the people’ in Myanmar.

‘GRANTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER’

‘This remarkable replenishment demonstrates ADF donors’ continued partnership with ADB to address the pressi
ng development challenges of those most in need,’ ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa said.

‘Grants are more important than ever as our poorest and most vulnerable members seek to reverse recent development setbacks and take urgent action to combat the climate crisis.’

The statement said the latest ADF replenishment would ‘continue to play a critical role in supporting climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

‘It will enable expanded assistance for regional cooperation and regional public goods, and for transformative gender action. It will also provide agile assistance in the event of emergencies through its crisis-response window.’

In parallel to the upcoming four-year ADF phase, the bank said it planned to provide US$16.7 billion in concessional loans with very low interest rates over long repayment periods.

SOUTH KOREA COMMITS US$2 BILLION IN COFINANCING WITH BANK

In a separate statement released Saturday, the bank said President Masatsugu Asakawa and South Korea Deputy Prime Minister Choi
Sang Mok signed a memorandum of understanding for US$2 billion in cofinancing over the next three years.

“The cofinancing will support climate change-related projects as well as transport, energy, agriculture, education, governance reform, health, and information and communication technology (ICT) projects,’ the bank said.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

KUALA KANGSAR, The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has allocated RM5.43 million for 21 infrastructure development and improvement projects in the Kuala Kangsar district.

Its minister, Nga Kor Ming said all the projects must be completed by Dec 31 and the highest amount of allocation of RM1 million has been channelled to the project to upgrade and refurbish the swimming pool belonging to the Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council (MPKK).

‘In addition, a total of RM993,000 has been channelled to the Kuala Kangsar Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) to implement five local development projects.

‘A total of RM600,000 has been set aside for the upgrading of LED lights in Taman Bandar, Kuala Kangsar. Three more projects worth RM500,000 involve the upgrading of LED lights in the MPKK areas; drainage in Taman Lintang Makmur, Sungai Siput Utara; and commercial space in Chandan Putri, Kuala Kangsar,’ he told a media conference after surveying the MPKK swimming pool here today.

Also present we
re Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, Local Government Department director-general Datuk Mohd Fadzli Mohd Kenali and MPKK president Dr Sakduddin Zamli.

Nga said the KPKT allocation would also be fully disbursed to the MPKK to coordinate and monitor the projects that will be implemented.

‘We ask that all parties involved conduct a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to ensure no wastage occurs in the projects,’ he said.

He also said that the approved allocation is a performance-based budget that aims to ensure that KPKT’s services and focus on the welfare of the people can continue to be improved.

‘We have 150 local authorities (PBT) in the country and I’d like to remind you that every PBT that shows the best performance (project development) will get additional allocations in the future,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

JITRA, The federal government has agreed in principle to proposals to convert agricultural land within the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) area for industrial and commercial development.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said further discussions with relevant parties will be held on this.

‘We are considering, for example, proposals in certain areas originally under MADA, where a portion of the land could be converted for housing, industry or business purposes.

‘The Federal Government has agreed in principle to this and I urge officials to expedite discussions to help boost Kedah’s income,’ he said in his speech at the Kedah-level MADANI Aidilfitri celebration here tonight.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, and several cabinet ministers also attended the event.

Anwar said the federal government has also agreed to increase allocations to upgrade irrigation systems in the MADA area to facilitate the ‘five seaso
ns in two years’ padi cultivation initiative.

He said allocations for this, previously at RM3 billion, have been increased to RM5 billion.

Anwar also emphasised the need to assist 2,500 hardcore poor families Kedah within two months as part of efforts to eradicate hardcore poverty in the state.

He said this required cooperation between the federal and state governments and directed the Implementation Coordination Unit to oversee this effort.

‘I believe, Insya-Allah, this cooperation will yield positive results because we do not want these states, which happen to be Malay and Muslim majority, to be in difficulty,’ he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said Kedah is one of the states receiving significant allocations from the federal government due to its role and special status in rice production and its contribution to the nation’s food security.

‘However, there is an issue raised by the state government regarding the burden faced by padi farmers within the impoverished community who need assistance.

‘Since last year, the federal government has increased the padi price subsidy scheme from RM350 per tonne to RM500 per tonne,’ he said.

Separately, Anwar said there is significant investor interest in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, and highlighted the need for the country to supply skilled resources through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

‘This is the situation, so I feel that we, both the federal and state governments, should focus on this.

‘On May 10, I will launch the first AI faculty in Malaysia. I want our youths to have expertise and skills, and will align with universities across Malaysia so that we do not lag behind in the field of AI,’ he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KEPALA BATAS, The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will open its dialysis centre in Penang by the end of this year.

Human Resources Minister, Steven Sim Chee Keong, said that the dialysis centre, costing RM2.6 million, will provide medical services to its contributors suffering from kidney disease.

‘By the end of this year, Socso will open a dialysis centre, managed by the agency itself. The centre can accommodate 144 patients per day.

‘Everything (treatment) is free for Socso contributors, and this is the service that we provided and we will continue to strive to give the best to contributors. Currently, there are 63 dialysis centre panels in Penang,’ he said, while speaking at the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) MADANI Aidilfitri gathering at Vision Park, today.

Also present at the event was Socso chairman Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal, and a total of 100 orphans and 40 single mothers were feted at the gathering, and presented with hampers.

Meanwhile, Sim, who is also a Member of Parliament for Buk
it Mertajam, said that Socso also distributed payments to 15 recipients, with a total value of RM301,699.64, along with rehabilitation equipment.

He said the payment covers four recipients of the Employment Insurance System (SIP) benefit; five recipients of permanent disability benefit; three recipients of the funeral management benefit and one each of the temporary disablement benefit; survivor’s pension benefit and illness allowance.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency