Day: May 24, 2024

PUTRAJAYA: Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has stressed that Malaysia’s involvement in two international negotiation platforms aims to safeguard the nation’s public health interests.

He was referring to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) for crafting an international instrument known as the Pandemic Treaty, and the Working Group on Amendments to the International Health Regulations (WGIHR) for making targeted revisions to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

In a statement today, Dr Dzulkefly said the international negotiations for developing instruments must adhere to three main principles: Sovereignty, ensuring that national sovereignty and the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the rulers remain intact.

Another critical principle is Equity, wherein developed nations must aid developing countries to ensure fair and equitable distribution of resources, such as pandemic-related health products, without monopolising them.

The third, meanwhile, revolves around Fundin
g, ensuring the establishment of health emergency financial mechanisms to address any potential pandemics without necessitating additional funds.

‘This negotiation process involves various ministries and agencies with a strong commitment to ensure the protection of the nation and its people, and the preservation of the country’s legal sovereignty.

‘Malaysia consistently upholds fundamental principles such as sovereignty and autonomy, justice and solidarity, transparency and equity in every negotiation,’ he said.

Dr Dzulkefly said if the finalised instrument prioritises the fundamental principles, particularly national sovereignty, the Health Ministry (MOH) will present it to the Cabinet for approval, enabling the government to sign it.

‘Until then, the government will not be bound by the instrument. MOH continually evaluates and monitors international negotiations for targeted amendments to the IHR 2005 and the development of this Pandemic Treaty,’ he said.

Dr Dzulkefly also announced that he would lead
Malaysia’s delegation to Geneva for the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) from May 27 to 31, which includes discussions on the progress of negotiations for Targeted Amendments to the IHR 2005 and for the development of the Pandemic Treaty.

‘It must be noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with all member countries, including Malaysia, has agreed to establish two international negotiation platforms.

‘The establishment of these platforms aims to bolster preparedness, prevention, detection and response to health emergencies, particularly future pandemics, at the global level,’ he said.

Dr Dzulkefly said both negotiation sessions are entirely driven by member countries, with WHO serving solely as the secretariat, and all decisions subject to their (member countries) approval.

‘The systematic and comprehensive negotiation methodologies of INB and WGIHR provide opportunities for each country to voice its perspectives and positions,’ he said.

He said WHO has stated that the amended I
HR will not empower it to mandate any country to impose health measures, including restrictions or movement control orders (lockdowns) or any other actions.

‘We will continue to update on the latest developments regarding both negotiations,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

TAWAU, A housewife’s determination to increase her family’s coffers by selling fried tofu from home saw her fortunes changed when she was able to open a shop to process the food with help from the government, to eventually earn a minimum net income of RM5,000 a month.

It was a humble start as Siti Juna, 42, launched the fried tofu business from home in 2018 with a production capacity of no more than 1,000 pieces per day because at that time the process of producing the fried tofu was done manually including deep frying the tofu in a wok on a gas stove.

“When we started at home in Kampung Pasir Putih, we began by sharing the fried tofu with neighbours and friends, and they urged Siti to do a business because at that time there were no Muslim tofu producers.

“In 2021, when the demand went up, and with no machine to help me at home…even if there was one it would have been too huge to have it at home, (so) I dared (challenged) myself, with the support of my husband, to open a shop in Megah Jaya, selling the
Hanan Soya brand, and with our (new) machine producing 3,000 pieces of fried tofu a day,” she said after receiving a visit from Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup here today.

In 2022, she recalls receiving a farmer entrepreneurship empowerment grant (called ‘Rise Up’) worth RM70,000 in the form of a machine, and from that point onwards, the production of fried tofu more than doubled to 7,000 pieces a day which she sold at only 35 sen apiece.

“We were able to fulfill the requests of (orders from) traders in Tawau, especially ‘begedil tofu’ traders at the night market. There are 12 traders who buy our fried tofu, their requests are indeed ‘kaw kaw’ (orders filled to the brim) because in one night these traders can sell between 1,000 to 1,500 pieces of ‘begedil tofu at RM1.10 apiece.

“These people also promote this ‘Hanan Soya” tofu by putting up banners at their stalls,” said Siti, who now also opens a tofu-based restaurant ‘Kedai Mee Tohu Hanan’ in Perdana Jaya

Accordi
ng to her, as a result of the government’s assistance, profits are getting better because before that the profits earned were only able to cover the expenses.

Meanwhile, Arthur cited Siti’s tofu story as an example of a success story which is to see the help provided by the government succeed in empowering micro-entrepreneurs in Sabah.

“The programme called ‘Rise Up’ helps entrepreneurs to reach their maximum capacity so that they can become successful entrepreneurs in the agro-food sector, like when I visited the shop and factory owned by Siti, she has bought some equipment with govt assistance to expand her production,” he said.

According to him, the ministry through its agencies has many programmes to empower entrepreneurs to increase their income, including marketing their products not only nationally but internationally.

Arthur also made a visit to the Tawau Area Farmers Association entrepreneur project namely the Nittaku Nita Bakery in Bandar Sri Indah and Viral Kek (company) in Garden City here.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING: A total of 247 Sarawak Multimedia Authority Rural Telecommunication (SMART) towers were successfully activated using Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology as of May 15.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said all the towers involved the services provided by CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and YTL.

He said the number was part of the 600 telecommunications towers planned to be built in Sarawak through several phases of allocations by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and telecommunications companies.

‘With the signing of the agreement today, these towers will go on air sooner and these facilities will be able to be used by the people of Sarawak,’ he told a press conference here today.

Fahmi said following the positive development of the SMART600 programme in Sarawak, all mobile network operators agreed to implement a similar programme nationwide.

‘For the rest of the country, we will start with the construction of five towers first b
ecause there are commercial aspects that need to be examined and we expect that within a year next year, there will be 102 towers that will be prioritised. After that, the telcos themselves will work on it,’ he said.

Earlier, Fahmi witnessed the signing of the SMART600 MOCN Agreement between Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC) with CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile and YTL as a significant leap towards improving digital connectivity in rural Sarawak.

Also present was Sarawak Utilities and Telecommunications Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi.

Meanwhile, Julaihi said that despite facing challenges in terms of topography and past permits, SDEC was able to physically build 512 of the 600 towers planned in Sarawak and described it as a proud success.

‘The installation of all telecommunication equipment is ongoing and we found that 247 towers are already using MOCN technology, while 308 towers are already on air using Sarawak Rural Broadband Network (MySRBN) technology,’ he said.

Meanwhile, MCMC in a
statement said the agreement marked the first six-way MOCN in the world, providing connectivity services from CelcomDigi, Maxis, U Mobile, YTL, and MySRBN.

MCMC said the project is estimated to benefit around 1,000 settlements in rural Sarawak and with this initiative, the community will enjoy ubiquitous coverage regardless of the network they choose and will be able to be connected.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: The remains of Sergeant Faridah Abd Rahman – a member of Malaysian Battalion 850-11 (MALBATT 850-11) for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), who passed away on Saturday – were flown back home yesterday evening.

The Joint Force Headquarters, in a statement on their Facebook page informed that a commercial aircraft carrying the remains departed from Rafik Hariri Airport, Beirut to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 12:05 local time in Lebanon (5:05 pm Malaysian time).

The burial is to be held at deceased’s hometown in Pendang, Kedah, tomorrow.

According to the statement, a military honours ceremony was conducted by UNIFIL at the Rafik Hariri International Airport.

Present at the ceremony were UNIFIL Commander Lt Gen Aroldo Lazaro, Malaysian Ambassador to Lebanon Azri Mat Yaacob, Commander of the 5th Brigade (LAF) Brig Gen Ahmad Saadeh, Western Sector Commander Brig Gen Enrico Fontana, and MALBATT 850-11 Commander Colonel Burhan Sagoni.

“Members of the MALBATT 850-1
1 contingent were also present, and a solemn atmosphere was felt as the remains were lowered from the mortuary van and carried inside.”

“Distinguished guests paid their respects as the coffin was carried and placed in the centre of the field draped with the UNIFIL flag,” the statement read.

It said that the ceremony commenced with the awarding of the UN and Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Bravery Medal (Bronze) to the deceased, with Lazaro placing the UN medal as recognition of Sergeant Faridah’s sacrifices while serving under the UN flag.

“Subsequently, LAF representative Ahmad Saadeh presented the Lebanese medal as a token of appreciation from the Lebanese Government, and a wreath was laid, initiated by the UNIFIL Commander, followed by the Malaysian Ambassador to Lebanon, LAF representative, Western Sector Commander and MALBATT Commander,” the statement continued.

The atmosphere on the field turned sombre and poignant as the ‘last post’ was played as a final tribute to Sergeant Faridah, it said, adding tha
t the ceremony concluded with the UNIFIL flag being folded by MALBATT members, followed by a prayer before the deceased’s coffin, draped with the Malaysian flag, was carried out of the field and taken to the cargo storage area to be flown to Malaysia.

On May 19, the Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters announced in a statement that Faridah passed away at 2.25 am local time in Lebanon (7.25 am Malaysian time) when she collapsed after disembarking from a bus at the Marakah Camp, shortly after arriving in Lebanon from a one-month vacation in Malaysia.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

IPOH, The Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP), in collaboration with the Perak government, is organising the three-day Northern Region One District One Industry (SDSI) Showcase and the Perak Entrepreneurs, Agriculture, and Cooperatives Day Tour 2024 at the Indera Mulia Stadium here, until this Sunday.

KUSKOP deputy secretary-general (Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Zamri Salleh said the showcase creates a marketing platform and provides the latest information regarding assistance or facilities provided by the government and related agencies.

“The programme, which will be officiated by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, gives visitors the opportunity to get to know potential and quality SDSI products through the SDSI product exhibition,’ he said in a statement today.

Zamri said the exhibition offers information sharing and entrepreneurial advisory services by agencies involved in providing financial facilities, including conventional/Islamic financial institutions, d
evelopment financial institutions, entrepreneurial development organisations, and alternative financing companies.

“This programme also includes pocket talk session, briefings involving government agencies, financing agencies, information on obtaining halal certification, and methods for marketing products online for free, as well as digital marketing programmes on the TikTok platform held on the main stage in collaboration with the Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN),’ he said.

On the Perak Entrepreneurs, Agriculture, and Cooperatives Day Tour implemented by the Perak State Entrepreneur Secretariat (STeP), Zamri added that it is in collaboration with District and Land Offices, local authorities, as well as state and federal entrepreneurial agencies.

“The main objective and target of this tour series is to serve as a one-stop service centre gathering various entrepreneurial agencies in Perak and related entities within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as banks, telecommunications companies, and
others, under one roof,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency