Day: June 27, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed the importance of companies under Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra (YPB) being managed in a way that translates the government’s overall vision and policies based on the mandate of the foundation’s establishment.

He said Pelaburan Hartanah Bhd (PHB) being placed under YPB’s ownership represents part of the strategy for the centralisation of Bumiputera investment institutions via YPB.

‘Besides ensuring financial returns to investors, it is important to instil community development initiatives related knowledge about financial management, entrepreneurship and innovation.

‘In addition, government-linked companies under Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) need to take the lead in supporting government efforts related to the green economy, modernisation of the agriculture industry and commensurate wages,’ he said in a social media post today.

Anwar, who chaired a YPB board of trustees meeting earlier in the day, said YPB plays an important role in the B
umiputera development agenda through companies under PNB, Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Bhd and Universiti Tun Abdul Razak.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

ALOR SETAR, The Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP) is currently being refined at the Bank Negara level, through the Bank Pertanian Malaysia (Agro Bank), before its introduction to farmers.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that the scheme aims to alleviate the financial burden on farmers caused by natural disasters, particularly in the context of the current uncertain climate change situation.

‘We hope that all farmers will be insured through this scheme eventually. Previously, under the Paddy Crop Disaster Fund (TBTP), the compensation process was lengthy; for example, compensation for last year’s disaster was only received this year due to manual processing.

‘With STTP, the compensation process will be faster as everything is already in the system. The contribution will be affordable, but the farmers’ welfare will be better protected,’ he said.

He said this after presenting financial assistance under TBTP to affected Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) farmers
and officiating the MADA Day 2024 programme at the agency’s headquarters, today.

He further explained that STTP represents a more comprehensive scheme, compared with TBTP, offering higher compensation of up to RM3,000 per hectare per season, as opposed to a maximum of RM1,800 per hectare per season under TBTP.

The scheme is set to benefit all paddy farmers under MADA in Season 2/2024, with a planned launch scheduled for September, in conjunction with the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2024.

He also urged all farmers in the Muda area to adhere to the rice planting schedule for Season 1/2024, to prevent unnecessary water wastage.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Greater Mekong sub-regional countries, including Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, have gathered to discuss and reaffirm their stand for the fight against illicit drugs.

The gathering took place in a meeting of ‘Senior Police Officers on Counter Narcotics’ in Bokeo province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on June 25 under the presidency of Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security H.E. Khamkinh Phuilamanivong.

On behalf of Cambodia, Lt. Gen. Nak Yuthea, Deputy Secretary General of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), spoke highly of the good collaboration of the Greater Mekong sub-regional countries on the fight against drugs.

The Royal Government of Cambodia is working hard to eliminate drugs with new measures, including an online app called ‘No Drug,” awareness building, and campaigns.

H.E. Khamkinh Phuilamanivong underlined that drugs do not only harm people’s health and threaten lives, but also handicap culture, political stability, and development.

He calle
d on the other five countries to further promote cooperation in information exchanges and build the capacity of their competent officials to jointly work to prevent and eliminate drugs so as to ensure safety and security in the region.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

GEORGE TOWN, UNITAR has allocated RM1 million to provide full scholarships for 20 eligible students from the B40 group in Penang this year to help them pursue tertiary education.

UNITAR International University vice-chancellor Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar said the scholarships for the 20 selected students would cover the entire tuition and accommodation fees throughout their study period at Unitar.

“This is the second year we are offering scholarships for students from the B40 group in Penang. Last year, Unitar also set aside RM1 million worth of full scholarships for 13 students from the same group in the state.

“This initiative, started by Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, aims to focus on empowering individuals from the B40 group in the state by providing them with access to quality education,’ he told reporters after the ceremony to award the UNITAR scholarships to 20 B40 students under an initiative by the Penang government.

Earlier, Tun Ahmad Fuzi presented the scholarshi
ps at Seri Mutiara. It was also attended by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and UNITAR Education Group chief executive officer P. Balachandran.

Elaborating, Sahol Hamid said that through the initiative, successful students had the flexibility to pursue conventional or online programmes at UNITAR’s campuses nationwide starting from either Foundation or Diploma levels with the opportunity to continue their studies to a Bachelor’s Degree programme.

He said the scholarship award would be the main stepping stone towards producing graduates with higher marketability, providing them with the golden opportunity to build an excellent long-term career and generate high income.

“The scholarship UNITAR offers is aimed at, among others, helping the students to reach a higher level so that they can go on to assist their families. We thank Tun Ahmad Fuzi and the state government for this collaboration,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Chow thanked Unitar for providing the RM1 million full scholarship for Penangites, adding that the ef
fort showed that the university is an institution that responds to the government’s challenge by taking monumental measures towards creating a knowledgeable and quality generation of leaders.

“I am confident the scholarships will be a catalyst to their academic achievement and a stepping stone to realising their dreams. It (the provision of the scholarships) is also in line with the state government’s vision and mission in recognising the talent and potential of Penangites,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

LIMBANG, The search for Private Muhammad Syafiq Hilmi Abd Halim, a soldier from the 7th Battalion Border Regiment who went missing while carrying out Op Ukur here with the Sarawak Department of Survey and Mapping (JUPEM) on June 18, has been intensified.

According to a statement by the Public Relations Cell of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Headquarters, the search and rescue (SAR) operation for the soldier based in Kem Kidurong, Bintulu, has entered its 10th day, with air and ground searches being conducted around the Ulu Mendalam area.

“Among the assets deployed are the EC 725 helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and the Augusta AW109 Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) owned by the army. The search is further intensified with the assistance of the K9 dog unit from the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM),” it added.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (ABDB) are also conducting searches within their search radius.

The statement added that MAF remained committed to the operation to find Syafiq and ho
ped that the public would pray for his safe return.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency