Category: General

KUALA NERUS, The Sultanah of Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah today witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Yayasan Tuanku Nur Zahirah (YTNZ) and Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) to elevate and preserve the state’s rich songket heritage.

YTNZ was represented by its chairman, Tengku Puteri Utama, Tengku Datuk Seri Nadhirah Zahrah Sultan Mizan while UniSZA was represented by its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Fadzil Adam.

Fadzil, in a statement, said that through the MoU, the university’s Faculty of Innovative Design and Technology (FRIT) will implement academic courses, commercial product development, research, consultation and promotion related to Terengganu’s luxurious hand-woven fabric.

He said the collaboration is also to support YTNZ’s efforts in preserving Terengganu’s songket heritage so that it is always fresh under the patronage of Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

‘This MoU is the continuation of the close relation between YTNZ and UniSZA in promoting songket craft
.

‘This collaboration is also very timely as it can strengthen the network as well as promote systematic and sustainable involvement of the local university in the local craft industry,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Changing the dates for the national and international-level Quran Recitation Assembly is not a new thing, and has happened several years ago, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

He said that, unfortunately, some parties were trying to sensationalise this matter to create a bad perception of the government.

‘The Quran Recitation Assembly is held every year, and has become a major programme at the national level. From time to time we strengthen the organisation of recitation in various forms,’ he said after attending the World #QuranHour 2024 programme at the National Mosque, today.

Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, graced the programme.

Yesterday, Zulkifli stressed that claims regarding the Quran Recitation Assembly not being organised in Malaysia this year were untrue.

He reportedly said that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has set the national-level Quran Recitation Assembly to be held from M
ay 23 to 28 in Kuantan, Pahang, while the international Quran Recitation Assembly will be held from Oct 5 to 12.

He said this following claims which went viral on social media, especially on Facebook and X platforms, that Malaysia no longer organises the Quran Recitation Assembly, and only focuses on organising concerts.

Commenting on the statement of Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who said that the ministry has found a series of arranged messages and coordinated messaging operations, to discredit the government by claiming that there would be no Quran Recitation Assembly this year, Zulkifli said that space should be given to the authorities to investigate the matter.

‘We will continue to provide understanding so that we can emphasise unity and respect towards each other,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Job scams will be one of 10 main agendas to be given emphasis during the ASEAN Summit 2025, the Dewan Negara was told today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifudin Nasution Ismail said that as the chair of the summit next year, Malaysia decided to address the issue of job scams as it has become a global crisis.

‘We are the first among ASEAN nations to include this topic at the ASEAN Summit, which we will chair next year…we are also the one that proposed for the issue to be included as one of the 10 main agendas.

‘Job scam was previously classified as fraud by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) but the crime is now recognised as human trafficking crime…so not only are we seeing this crisis, but regional and global countries are also facing it.’

The minister said this during Question Time in reply to Senator Rita Sarimah Anak Patrick Insol who wanted to know the current statistics on job scam victims and the government’s efforts to tackle the issue more efficiently and effecti
vely.

Saifudin said that from September 2021 until now, police have received 362 reports related to job scams involving 470 victims.

‘Out of these 470 victims, 331 have been rescued, and the remaining 139 are categorised as still stranded in the countries involved,’ he said.

As part of continuous efforts to raise awareness among the public about this crime, Saifudin said a joint effort will be carried out with Malaysia Airports Berhad.

He said under this joint effort, counters related to job scams and human trafficking will be set up at the country’s exit points to raise awareness among the public before they leave the country and fall victim to the crime.

‘At these counters, they may check beforehand before proceeding further. We will also have electronic or digital displays at the country’s exit points as a final effort to continue reminding the public,’ he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, The Communications Ministry, through the Information Department (JaPen), has organised 1,938 Info On Wheels (IOW) programmes from January until March 3 this year to increase public understanding of the Malaysia MADANI concept.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said that besides the IOW programme, which involves community engagement by JaPen, the ministry has implemented several other programmes, including Jiwa MADANI, Kita MADANI, and Infiesta Pentarama programmes.

‘Additionally, the Broadcasting Department (RTM) consistently disseminates the Malaysia MADANI concept through various materials such as capsules, public service announcements and talk shows,’ she said during the question and answer session in Dewan Negara today.

She was responding to a question from Senator Amir Md Ghazali, who wanted to know the effectiveness of the ministry’s strategies in conveying understanding about the policies, agenda, and achievements of the MADANI Government’s administration from 2023 until the
present.

Teo also said that 125 talk show programmes on Malaysia MADANI featuring selected guests were aired on all 34 national and state radio stations.

She said information was also shared via infographics and videographics from various ministries on the digital media platforms of RTM, Bernama, and JaPen.

Some 18 exhibitions showcasing the Malaysia MADANI concept will be organised nationwide this year, she added.

Meanwhile, Teo said the government has never marginalised creative industry practitioners from the Indian community and has offered various support initiatives such as financing facilities, market access, promotions and capacity building through agencies under the ministry.

She highlighted that MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd has provided various financing facilities under CENDANA, the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA), the Malaysian Creative Industry Stimulus Package (PRISMA) and the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (PEMULIH) initiatives to assist those affected
by the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said that RTM has also organised talent search programmes such as Bintang MINNAL and the Limpahan Cahaya programme during the Deepavali celebrations and others.

Teo said this in response to a question from Senator Datuk Dr R. Nelson regarding special programmes to ensure that Indian artistes can generate income to sustain their livelihoods, considering they have been marginalised since the onset of COVID-19.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Pakatan Harapan (PH) will convene a meeting soon to discuss matters related to the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election and finalise a suitable candidate to represent the coalition in the state constituency, said its secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail .

Saifuddin Nasution, who is also Home Minister, said he will meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PH chairman, today to determine the nearest date for holding the meeting.

“Usually, in that meeting, we will finalise the status in terms of the party contesting the vacancy.

“Thereafter, we will listen to the concerned party to present their list of candidates… then we will discuss matters regarding the preparation of machinery, logistics, and so on,” he told the media here.

Saifuddin Nasution said this is the usual sequence each time their meeting revolves around a by-election.

“I will discuss with the PH chairman right after this media briefing. Then, I will announce the date(for the meeting),” he said.

The Ele
ction Commission (EC) today set the polling day for the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election in Selangor on May 11.

EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh said nomination and early voting for the by-election are set for April 27 (Saturday) and May 7 (Tuesday) respectively.

The Kuala Kubu Bahru seat became vacant following the demise of its incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong, from DAP, on March 21.

Lee, 58, who had been the Kuala Kubu Bahru assemblyman under the Hulu Selangor parliamentary constituency since 2013, passed away after battling cancer for several years.

The Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election is the seventh by-election to be held after the 15th General Election (GE15) in 2022.

The Electoral Roll for the Kuala Kubu Bahru by-election comprises a total of 40,226 registered voters consisting of 39,362 regular voters, 625 police personnel, 238 military personnel and spouses, and one absentee voter residing abroad.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KOTA KINABALU, A warehouse storing cables owned by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in Jalan Menggatal Batu 7 near here caught fire today.

Sabah Fire and Rescue Department operations commander, Selvister Yamud said that no fatalities or injuries were reported in the fire that occurred at 12.56 pm involving the warehouse measuring 1.49 hectares.

He said that the fire destroyed 1.21 hectares of the warehouse, along with an empty house, while the storage of transformers, Hyraxoil oil, feeder pillar machines and a building were saved.

“The firefighting operation involving personnel from the Kota Kinabalu, Lintas, and Penampang fire stations used water jets from fire engines, water tankers, open water sources, and nearby fire hydrants,” he said when contacted.

He said they were alerted at 12.56 pm, and firefighters arrived at the scene at 1.02 pm to conduct firefighting operations, before successfully controlling the fire at 5.06 pm.

The fire caused thick smoke in the Kota Kinabalu area.

Meanwhile, SESB conf
irmed the fire incident at its warehouse and stated that the cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, With Aidilfitri celebration around the corner, one should be wary of indulging in delicious cuisine as to not overeat because it will have harmful effects on the health and body, according to a dietitian.

Dietetics Senior Manager at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City Celeste Lau said overeating especially after a month of fasting could result in significant weight gain and increase risk of developing unwanted diseases.

“It is not impossible for an individual’s weight to increase by three kilogrammes in a month if they attend many social activities such as open houses and consume many main dishes or heavy meals including various snacks and sweet drinks.

“They would be exposed to the risk of heart disease or even sudden death if they eat and drink too much, eat uncontrollably, lack rest and sleep. Although the risk is low or rare, it may happen,” she said in a statement.

Lau said it is vital for individuals with chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and kidney dise
ase to control their food intake and maintain their lifestyle during the festive season.

“Although the celebration of the festival does not occur often, if the diet and lifestyle are not maintained, it may interfere or waste the disease preventive efforts that were done before.

“For those who are not sick, if they do not take care of their diet, and they lack rest, sleep and exercise, the common health problems experienced during festive season are weight gain, gastrointestinal problems such as flatulence, constipation, headaches, food poisoning, fever or bacterial infection,” said Lau.

Therefore, she advised everyone to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet as making such decisions and choices can guarantee the well-being and health of the body in the long run.

Lau added that the public should also control and reduce the consumption of high-sugar food and drinks as well as following the healthy eating plate’s principle ‘Quarter Quarter Half’.

“Reduce foods such as cookies, cakes, chocolate, sweets and suga
ry drinks, increase the intake of fresh and natural foods and drink more plain water.

“What is important is to make sure that the food taken is balanced, simple and diverse, such as the concept of Quarter Quarter Half or the Malaysian Healthy Plate concept introduced by the government so that the food chosen is balanced according to the appropriate quantity,” she said.

As Aidilfitri is celebrated cheerfully and happily, Lau said that it is important to adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle so as to not affect one’s health during and after the celebration.

“In addition to disciplining ourselves to adopt a healthy lifestyle and diet, we can also encourage and provide healthy or balanced food and drinks to visiting guests. Eat according to need and don’t indulge your cravings, always remember that balanced, moderate and varied is the key to long-term health,” she added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEOUL: Emergency departments at major general hospitals have shown increasing signs of strain, a senior official said Tuesday, as junior doctors’ mass walkout to protest the planned hike in medical school admissions entered its seventh week.

The number of major emergency rooms that are partially limiting their treatment of critically ill patients rose to 14 in the final week of March, up from 10 in the first week of the month, Deputy Health Minister Jun Byung-wang told reporters.

That means that the number of major emergency departments that are unable to treat at least one of 27 critical health problems, including heart attacks and brain hemorrhages, has increased.

There are 44 major emergency departments in South Korea.

“There are signs that the prolonged collective action has somewhat impacted the capabilities of the medical system,” Jun said.

About 12,000 trainee doctors have been on strike in the form of mass resignations since Feb. 20, with medical professors having submitted resignations in suppor
t of the walkout.

Medical professors, who are senior doctors at major hospitals, also began cutting their working hours Monday to cope with growing fatigue caused by the protracted walkout by junior doctors.

The deputy minister said health authorities plan to deploy all available personnel, including military and retired doctors, to sustain the health care system.

He said the government remains open to talks with doctors if they come up with a unified and reasonable solution to resolve the impasse over the reform to hike the number of medical students by 2,000 per year.

The statement followed remarks a day earlier by President Yoon Suk Yeol that doctors need to come up with a “unified proposal” on the appropriate increase in medical school admissions.

However, Yoon said a hike of 2,000 medical students is the minimum, vowing not to back down from the number.

“The government is willing to engage in discussions with an open mind if the medical community proposes unified and more rational measures based on
scientific evidence and logic while discontinuing the collective action,” Jun told reporters.

“We hope doctors deliver their opinion in a rational manner while protecting their patients,’ he said.

Yoon’s office said later Tuesday said the president is open to a meeting with trainee doctors.

“There are many organizations in the medical community, but President Yoon Suk Yeol would like to meet with trainee doctors, who are directly involved in the collective action, and hear what they have to say,” Yoon’s office said in a message sent to the media. “The presidential office is always open to people.”

Earlier in the day, a group representing medical professors called on the president and a representative of trainee doctors to sit down for talks “without preconditions.”

Source: Philippines News Agency