Day: June 1, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, The National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) and Stesen Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) are both celebrating their anniversaries today. FINAS turns 43 whereas TV3 hits 40.

FINAS was officially established on June 1, 1981 as the leading body for the advancement of the national film industry while TV3, owned by Media Prima Berhad, began broadcasting in 1984 as the first private television station in Malaysia.

FINAS chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib said he was grateful for the support and encouragement over the years which enabled the agency, under the Communications Ministry, to carry out its responsibility of empowering the country’s creative film industry.

He said FINAS will also continue to drive the development of the industry and ensure that films and producers from Malaysia can make a name for themselves on the international stage, especially in the Southeast Asian region.

“We also want to see Malaysia become one of the main filming hubs in the region,” he sai
d when contacted by Bernama today.

Azmir Saifuddin said his team would announce several new initiatives to ensure the film industry remains viable, including a mechanism for the monetisation of intellectual property (IP monetisation) and a payment scheme for industry players.

“These initiatives are to encourage producers to come out with content or intellectual property which can be featured and sold not only in Malaysia but also abroad,” he said.

“Therefore, I hope all parties can work together with FINAS to develop this industry in a more professional direction and make it an industry that offers various career opportunities and generates income.”

Meanwhile, Media Prima Berhad News and Current Affairs group editor Kamaruddin Mape expressed his appreciation to the loyal viewers of the TV station throughout its four decades of broadcasting.

“TV3 always strives to satisfy the tastes or even the wishes of its audience (for example), one of the strengths of its ‘Buletin Utama’ is the ‘Aduan Rakyat’ segment
where we help people to highlight the issues they face and try to find solutions,” he said.

He also acknowledged that TV3, like all media organisations in Malaysia, needs to adapt to remain relevant especially in today’s era where information or news is no longer only delivered through print or broadcast platforms, but also through social media.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi is to lead a Malaysian delegation to the World Cities Summit (WCS) and Asia Infrastructure Forum (AIF) 2024, which will be held for three days in Singapore starting tomorrow.

The Ministry of Works (KKR) said the biennial WCS is an exclusive platform for government leaders and industry experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships.

“Themed ‘Liveable and Sustainable Cities: Rejuvenate, Reinvent, Reimagine,’ it brings together leaders and stakeholders to discuss opportunities and solutions for achieving sustainable and smart urban development, resilience, and regeneration for the present and future, as well as the quality of cities that can provide a good life for all their citizens,” it said in a statement today.

Nanta is scheduled to participate in the WCS Opening Plenary session.

‘The Minister of Works will share his views while discussing and delving into issues re
lated to the importance of sustainable development and infrastructure, including its impact and benefits to developing countries such as Malaysia,” it said.

Nanta is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Singapore’s Minister for National Development Desmond Lee to discuss and explore the potential for bilateral cooperation in the construction sector and the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

This effort aligns with internationalisation initiatives under the National Construction Policy 2030 (NCP 2030) and is a key focus of the Ministry of Works to strengthen TVET in the country.

The statement also said that Malaysia’s participation in the international conference will demonstrate the country’s commitment and determination to highlight issues of urban planning and sustainable infrastructure development involving the construction, infrastructure, and technology sectors.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Education Ministry (MOE) is upgrading 384 educational institutions into centres of excellence (COE) with digital facilities this year.

Its minister, Fadhlina Sidek said the upgrading work is an effort to inculcate a digital culture by supplying digital studios and digital maker hubs to shore up teacher competencies and skills.

“That’s why we’ve taken up the initiative to upgrade teacher activity centres at 384 locations. What this means is that these centres of excellence will be equipped with digital materials and can be focus centres of teachers to raise their competencies as well as that of their students,’ she said after officiating the 2023 national level Digital Utilisation and Technology Awards (DUTA) and the launch of MyDigitalMaker Fair (MDMF) 2024 at the National Science Centre here today, in the presence of her deputy Wong Kah Woh and Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.

She also stressed that the ministry will not compromise on any issue of p
ower abuse involving discipline linked to teachers in schools.

She said she has issued very stern statements about the matter, especially when it involves student welfare.

‘We have handed the case to authorities and we are waiting for the report to be brought to the ministry level. In accordance with our statement, we do not compromise and we will cooperate fully with the authorities in their investigation,’ she said when commenting about the case of a primary school pupil who fell ill after being made to stand under the hot sun for almost three hours.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUCHING, Cultural performances by various races in Sarawak were the highlight of the Gawai Open House organised by the state’s Dayak leaders at the Borneo Kuching Convention Centre here today.

Guests of the open house, which lasted from 10 am to 4 pm, were greeted by three of the four last Bidayuh ring ladies, who adorn their forearms and lower legs with bronze rings, and Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were guests of honour.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and his wife Datin Sri Ruziah Mohd Tahir, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Dr Abang Johari Tun Openg and his wife Puan Sri Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang, deputy premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Tian as well as federal government and Sarawak state ministers attended the event today.

As minister in charge of the event, Uggah said around 7,000 guests attended this year’s Open House.

‘Our objective (is) to showcase th
e unity and the cultures in Sarawak and I can see it is a success. There are the three Bidayuh ring ladies and in future there are many other cultures to display,’ he told reporters at the event today.

Gawai Dayak is a Dayak community festival showing their gratitude following the rice harvest season and appreciation to their continued bounty and livelihood.

It is celebrated every June 1 and 2 in Sarawak, especially by the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, McDonald’s Malaysia, as a 100 per cent Muslim-owned business in the country, has consistently voiced its support for the plight of the victims in Palestine and has donated RM1 million to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund.

Managing Director and Local Operating Partner of McDonald’s Malaysia, Datuk Azmir Jaafar also highlighted the collective effort of its employees who raised over RM100,000 in donations to provide further assistance.

‘We do what we can, and I encourage everyone to do the same. As a fellow Muslim, I share the pain and despair over what’s happening in Gaza. I stand in solidarity with my Muslim brethren in Gaza and around the world. We all feel a moral obligation to help within our means.

‘Standing up for the plight of Palestinians in Gaza is important, but it should not come at the expense of harming fellow Malaysians,’ he said in a statement, today.

Expressing concern over the recent spate of incidents involving acts of vandalism targeting McDonald’s signboards, billboards an
d numerous restaurants across the country, he said such action causes significant harm and distress to its crew members as well as the surrounding community.

Azmir said in addition to the vandalism, any acts of aggression towards its crew members and customers are deeply troubling and he appealed to members of the public to refrain from actions that damage property.

‘We are all part of the Malaysian family, and such behaviour is hurtful and counterproductive. The safety of our employees, all of whom are our fellow Malaysians, is our utmost priority.

Vandalism and aggression do not foster constructive dialogue or resolution, they only contribute to a more dire situation. Let’s work together towards solutions based on our shared values,’ he said, urging all Malaysians to express their views responsibly.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency