Category: General

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) assured contractor Impact Hub Manila, its partner during the pre-election debates last year, that it is not running away from its obligations. Comelec chair George Garcia confirmed the Comelec has not paid ‘a single cent’ as they are still determining whether everything is in order because it involves public funds. ‘Public fund was involved and it is our sworn duty to spend it only pursuant to established rules, regulations and auditing practices,’ he said in a message to reporters Monday night in reaction to the final demand letter from Impact Hub Manila asking the poll body to pay its alleged unsettled liability amounting to PHP15.3 million. ‘We are determining whether everything was in order or whether something somewhere along the way, serious issues of questionable nature did set in. We cannot be rushed to settle, more so that there are criminal, civil and administrative liabilities being investigated,’ Garcia added. The issue stemmed from the cancellation of the last two Comelec-sponsored debates at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City on April 30 and May 1, 2022 following the alleged failure of Impact Hub Manila to pay PHP14 million to the hotel. Impact Hub Manila said there was a ‘misunderstanding’ with Sofitel but their contract with Comelec stands. The demand letter signed by lawyer Ma. Karla Denise Frias said that despite Impact Hub Manila’s repeated demands, both verbally and via email, the claims have remained unpaid. ‘As such, please consider this as the final demand to coordinate and set a meeting with us to discuss the settlement of the outstanding balance. Please note that failure to respond or to make a payment arrangement within the next five days upon receipt of this Notice will leave us with no other option but to avail of the legal remedies under the law to recover the debt and to protect the company’s interests,’ read the demand letter dated April 27 and received by the Comelec on May 8. Garcia said he ordered the creation of an investigating panel to look further into the case after he assumed office in July 2022. ‘The panel already submitted a report several months ago. However, the En Banc returned it to the body with the instructions to clearly pinpoint the specific laws and provisions involved, the responsibilities if there be any of certain mentioned individuals, and a more detailed recommendations based on the facts and the laws applicable,’ he said. ‘The factual antecedents as determined by the panel remained as is.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Philippine Army (PA) on Tuesday said Filipino and Australian troopers have formally started their special training for jungle and urban warfare at Camp Capinpin, Tanay, Rizal on Monday. Army spokesperson Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement that the training is part of the Philippine-Australia Army-to-Army Exercise ‘Kasangga’ 23-2. Participating troops are from the Australian Defence Force and the PA’s 2nd Infantry Division. “The 114 soldiers from 2ID (Infantry Division) will train side-by-side with 43 Australian soldiers during the bilateral exercises which will culminate on June 23, 2023,” Trinidad said. They will participate in urban operations combat tracking; jungle warfare and survival training; long-range marksmanship; tactical combat casualty care; sensitive site exploitation, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations; and small unit leader’s training through an exchange of tactics, techniques, and procedures. Australian defense attaché to the Philippines Col. Paul Joseph Barta said Australian troops expect to learn jungle warfare and survival skills from 2ID soldiers, known by their nickname “Jungle Fighters”. On the other hand, 2ID assistant division Commander Brig. Gen. Augusto Villareal said Filipino troops will be taught urban operations by their Australian counterparts. The Exercise Kasangga 23-2, an annual bilateral training exercise that is anchored on the Philippines-Australia Defense Engagement Plan, will bolster Army-to-Army ties and interoperability between the two ground forces, Trinidad said.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Cambodian Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) H.E. Ly Thuch has met with H.E. Mrs. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) to discuss their mine clearance cooperation.

The discussion was held in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday, on the sidelines of the 79th Session of ESCAP.

On the occasion, H.E. Ly Thuch highly appreciated the cooperation and partnership between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the ESCAP in mine clearance.

H.E. Ly Thuch thanked the ESCAP for supporting mine action in Cambodia and co-chairing a side event on Mine Action for Sustainable Development at the ESCAP’s 79th Session, in which Cambodia and the ESCAP expressed their joint commitment to clearing all landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW).

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

A total of 140 passengers and crew members on board a ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis were stranded for almost five hours after a rope got twisted around the vessel’s propeller at about 8 last night.

According to a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) source, the ferry ran aground about 2.5 nautical miles southwest of Kuala Perlis.

“MMEA assets have been deployed to the scene of the incident to monitor the work carried out by the ferry company and all passengers arrived safely at the Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal at 12.20 am today,” he said when contacted by reporters early this morning.

Meanwhile, Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd’s human resources and operations manager, Captain Baharin Baharom, when contacted said the ferry ran aground with only 0.9 km remaining.

“The propeller of the ferry got caught in a rope which is believed to have drifted in the waters causing the trip to be delayed and we have sent a towing boat and everything is safe and back to normal,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The Ministry of Communications and Digital (KKD) staff must always uphold the principles of trust and integrity to the highest standard in carrying out their duties, said its Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said that being trustworthy and with integrity not only gives value to oneself but also has a good impact on the organisation, the people and the country as a whole.

“Let’s nurture trust and strengthen integrity in all of us. I would also like to call for a sincere attitude and an atmosphere of fun in work to continue to be nurtured.

“I believe KKD has staff who are competitive and the best in whatever service they provide,” he said in his speech at the ministry’s 2022 Excellent Service Awards (APC) ceremony here today.

He said that KKD staff, in an effort to implement more dynamic and progressive changes, must continue to emphasise character building through increasing knowledge and skills.

“KKD staff are an important asset in making every policy and national agenda introduced by the Unity Government a success,” he said.

On the APC, Fahmi said the event is hoped to motivate all KKD staff to always be competitive in cultivating excellent work practices, in line with the pledge of public service.

Today, a total of 374 KKD staff, including 53 recipients from the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), received certificates of appreciation and incentives worth RM1,000.

Also present were Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching and Bernama chief executive officer Roslan Ariffin.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has asked the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to carry out continuous monitoring of all officers in his office in an effort to avoid any fraud.

He said that the enforcement authorities, especially the MACC, are free to act in carrying out their duties.

“I ask the MACC to (do) a check on all my officers to make sure there is no fraud. If any action is taken (by MACC), we will also take action.

“Thus far, there has been no investigation and nothing untoward has happened,” he told reporters after the Communications and Digital Ministry’s (KKD) 2022 Excellent Service Award (APC) presentation ceremony here today.

Recently, Edisi Siasat via the Telegram channel claimed that Fahmi and Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad had sacked their respective officers over an alleged anti-graft probe.

On Saturday (May 13), Fahmi dismissed the allegation that one of his officers was being investigated by the MACC. He also described the allegation as untrue, baseless and malicious, against KKD including himself.

“We hope that those behind the allegation will be brought to justice and that people should check (the authenticity) first before sharing something,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

The number of weekly flights to Sarawak now stands at 488, comprising 41 international flights and 447 domestic flights, said the state Deputy Minister for Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil.

He said among the international flight to Sarawak were from Singapore and Brunei while the domestic flights are from several destinations, among others, from Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor.

Dr Jerip said since the opening of the country’s international border after the COVID-19 pandemic, his ministry has been working closely with the Transport Ministry at the federal level, and the tourism industry players to reinstate flights to Sarawak.

“The ministry is also working with the airlines to expand Sarawak’s connectivity to Indonesia and China. In this regard, Kuching will have its first direct connectivity to Jakarta commencing on June 15 this year.

“With increased flight frequencies operated by more airlines, it will create healthy competition that would result in more affordable and competitive airfares. Further engagements were also being made to increase flight frequencies to Sarawak during festive seasons and school holidays,” he said.

He said this in response to a question by Yap Yau Sin (GPS-Kota Sentosa) during the question and answer session at the Sarawak State Assembly sitting here, today.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Persistence and never giving up are the keys to Aminuddin Mat Yusof’s success in managing the oil and gas shipping business, which earned him the ‘Tokoh Usahawan (Entrepreneur) Terengganu’ Award.

After 25 years in business, Aminuddin, 57, the managing director of Amir Vision Sdn Bhd, now owns five utility ships worth RM125 million and a modern steel fishing vessel worth RM10 million.

In addition to the shipping sector, he has successfully expanded his business by founding 15 companies in various fields including fisheries, the halal industry and education.

So it came as no surprise when he was conferred the ‘Tokoh Usahawan Terengganu’ Award 2022 by the Terengganu Entrepreneur Development Foundation (YPU).

However, Aminuddin said the road to success was never easy for him as he had to overcome various challenges.

“The biggest challenge was when all five of my company’s ships went unchartered following the oil and gas industry crash in 2015. The company’s situation was bad at that time because we had to pay bank debt and employee salaries totaling close to RM3 million.

“However, I did not give up. As entrepreneurs, we must always have a resilient mindset and be fearless in the face of challenges,” he said when met at the Terengganu Entrepreneur Awards 2022 (AUT 2022) at Taman Tamadun Islam here, last night.

Aminuddin also attributed his success to the dedication and hard work of his almost 700 staff.

Therefore, he said, it was important for him to ensure that the welfare of his employees is well taken care of so that they always feel motivated and appreciated.

“Every month we will hold the solat hajat and Yasin recital and celebrate employees’ birthdays as an expression of appreciation for them.

“I have also set up a foundation called Yayasan Sulaiman Al-Haj to channel educational assistance to the children of staff and selected students in Terengganu,” said Aminuddin, who received a cash prize of RM5,000 and a trophy.

The AUT 2022 Award presentation ceremony was officiated by the Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.

A total of 56 awards were presented at AUT 2022 including the Warisan Award, Young Entrepreneur Award, High Performance Entrepreneur Award, and Rural Micro Entrepreneur Award.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency