Month: June 2024

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will enhance its vigilance in Malaysia’s maritime zones as a proactive measure to ensure the country’s waters remain safe and secure.

MMEA acting director-general Vice Admiral Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said today that this effort was not only aimed at safeguarding national security, but also to make a positive contribution to the country’s position in the Global Peace Index (GPI).

According to media reports, Malaysia has climbed nine spots, from 19th to 10th, in the ranking of the world’s most peaceful countries for 2024.

Saiful Lizan said that enhancing security is in line with the government’s commitment to maintaining optimal maritime safety and the importance of protecting national waters and international trade routes such as the South China Sea and the Malacca Strait.

‘Constant and tighter patrolling and surveillance actions are crucial to ensure that the sovereignty, rights and interests of the country in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
are always protected,’ he said in a statement.

He emphasised that maritime security is important not only for national stability, but also for the economy.

Saiful Lizan further said that with enhanced patrols and enforcement operations, MMEA can prevent and reduce the risk of criminal threats in the country’s waters.

He added that the improved security is hoped to attract more foreign investors to the country, considering that the GPI rating has recognised Malaysia as one of the safest countries in the world.

‘It is hoped that MMEA’s efforts can continuously support the improvement of Malaysia’s position in the Global Peace Index, thereby advancing the economy and enhancing the well-being of the people,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BUKIT KAYU HITAM, The number of foreign vehicles refueling with diesel at petrol stations near the country’s border has significantly decreased since the targeted diesel subsidy was announced on June 10.

A Bernama survey at several petrol stations near the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security Complex (ICQS) found only a few vehicles with Thai registration plates refueling.

Although this might reduce profits for these petrol stations, several operators and workers expressed relief as it helps curb diesel smuggling and misappropriation.

Mohamad Nekmat Ariffin, 41, who runs a petrol station in Changlun, about eight kilometres from the Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS, said foreign vehicles at his station have significantly decreased since the price of diesel was increased.

However, he explained that it does not affect his business, as 80 percent of the diesel sales are allocated to logistics companies that are regular customers.

“Only 20 percent of our diesel quota is sold to private or oth
er commercial vehicles, including foreign vehicles, which are limited to purchasing only 20 litres per transaction.

“But now, there are very few foreign vehicles refueling here. Previously, there were many foreign four-wheel-drive vehicles. Only passenger vehicles like vans still refuel with diesel here,” he told Bernama today.

Mohamad Nekmat, who has been running the 35-year-old petrol station inherited from his late father two years ago, also supports the targeted diesel subsidy, especially in curbing fuel misappropriation.

“Sometimes foreign vehicles or those intending to smuggle diesel will refuel at several stations. We can’t track their movements or how many times they refuel. So by increasing the diesel price, we hope diesel smuggling can be deterred,” he said.

He also acknowledged a decrease in diesel sales at his station after the price hike, explaining that it was due to logistics companies switching to other petrol stations and some companies delaying their operations while waiting for Fleet Ca
rd Diesel to receive the fuel subsidy.

Muhammad Irfan Kamarulan, a 22-year-old worker at a petrol station on the Bukit Kayu Hitam-Jitra Highway, reported that foreign vehicles refueling with diesel since the RM3.35 per litre price took effect on June 10 has dropped by more than 50 percent.

“We sell two types of diesel here, Euro 5 B7 and Euro 5 B10. Previously, we sold about 8,000 litres of B10 diesel daily, but now sales have dropped to between 5,000 and 6,000 litres per day.

“One reason for this decline is that foreign vehicles are refueling less since the diesel price increase. Local vehicles are also refueling less, possibly because they are applying for the Fleet Card Diesel,” he said.

Muhammad Irfan highlighted that he often detected the same vehicles refueling multiple times a day, and suspected them of smuggling.

To curb misappropriation, the management of his petrol station has limited diesel purchases by foreign vehicles to RM30, even though the maximum allowable limit is 20 litres.

“Sometimes
, vehicles refuel with diesel up to three times a day. We can’t be sure if they are regular users or involved in misappropriation, so we limit diesel purchases to RM30 per refuel for foreign vehicles. If the same vehicle returns, we reduce the purchase limit to RM20.

“The petrol station is only about three kilometres from the border, so we feel it’s unnecessary to sell a lot of diesel to foreign vehicles,” he said, supporting the government’s targeted diesel subsidy initiative.

Meanwhile, Brian Yuen, 50, the manager of a petrol station in Napoh, about 18 kilometres from the border, reported that diesel sales at his station have decreased by around 50 percent following the price increase.

“But it’s not a big issue because our station focuses on selling petrol. Previously, we sold about 1,000 to 2,000 litres of diesel daily, but now it has dropped to just a few hundred litres a day.

“Officials from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living frequently inspect our station. We always monitor diesel and
petrol sales and control sales to foreign vehicles to prevent misappropriation,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is leaving it to the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat Tan Sri Johari Abdul to decide on the status of the seat of six Bersatu Members of Parliament whose party membership has ceased immediately.

“The question of six Bersatu seats (Members of Parliament) was referred to the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. Let the Speaker decide,” he said when met after performing Friday prayers at the Tun Abdul Aziz Mosque, here today.

Yesterday, Bersatu chief whip Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee announced in a statement that the notification of the vacant seats of the six Bersatu MPs whose party membership had ceased immediately had been submitted and received by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office.

The seats involve the parliamentary constituencies of Jeli and Gua Musang in Kelantan, Bukit Gantang and Kuala Kangsar in Perak, Tanjong Karang, Selangor and Labuan.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), through its subsidiary UKM Holdings Sdn Bhd (UKMH), plans to establish the UKM Specialist Centre 2 (UKMSC2) by 2026 to strengthen UKMSC’s position as a premier specialist treatment centre.

UKMH Board of Directors chairman Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shaffie stated that the new specialist medical centre will be built on a 1.416-hectare land within the Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) in Cheras, and have a 100-bed capacity to accommodate the increasing number of patients.

“UKMSC2 will utilise the latest modern medical technology to keep pace with the emergence of various new diseases, which pose a significant challenge to UKMSC in managing these conditions.

“After operating for over two decades under UKMH, the rebranding of UKMSC and the establishment of UKMSC2 signify UKMSC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its identity and position as a premier specialist treatment centre in Malaysia,” he said in a press release today.

He added that the second special
ist hospital will offer a wide range of services, including outpatient and inpatient treatment clinics; operating theaters; intensive care, critical care, and high dependency units; rehabilitation clinics; diagnostic and medical support services; as well as digital hospital and green hospital services.

“The expansion of these specialist services will simultaneously create more opportunities for medical research and innovation in the healthcare field, benefiting the entire healthcare sector in Malaysia,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, UKM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr. Mohd Ekhwan Toriman highlighted that the establishment of UKMSC2 will draw interest from both local and foreign investors to develop medical technology innovations in Malaysia, thereby aiding UKM in achieving financial self-reliance through revenue generation.

He noted that UKMH’s Business Development Strategy Group also contributes to producing a more trained workforce to ensure sustainability and efficiency in delivering top-notch patient care.

”
Furthermore, UKMSC is actively enhancing strategic collaborations with leading medical institutions abroad to advance healthcare expertise and technology, enabling UKMSC to offer services on par with global specialist treatment centres.

“These initiatives not only elevate UKMSC’s reputation but also greatly benefit patients in need of specialised care,” he added.

He said the establishment of UKMSC2 will further solidify UKM’s status as one of the country’s leading universities, excelling in business aspects on an international scale.

“With robust support from UKMH and meticulous planning, UKMSC is committed to providing high-quality healthcare services to the Malaysian public and healthcare sector as a whole,” he concluded.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency