Civil servants encouraged to wear batik daily

 

Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz says civil servants are encouraged to wear batik attire every day. NSTP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is encouraging civil servants to wear batik attire daily as an alternative to office wear, following a move to standardise air-conditioning temperatures to a minimum of 24°C to conserve energy.

Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said the directive is in line with the Human Resource Service Circular (MyPPSM) Section UP.7.2.3 on Dress and Appearance Etiquette for Civil Servants.

"Under paragraph 5, Schedule 1 (iii): Attire for Male Officers While on Duty and paragraph 8, Schedule 2 (ii): Attire for Female Officers While on Duty, wearing batik attire is mandatory every Thursday and encouraged on all working days as an alternative to office wear," he said.

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He said this in a circular issued to ministry secretaries-general and state secretaries, which was uploaded on the Public Service Department's Facebook page.

In addition, he said heads of department may allow officers on duty to wear corporate attire or fieldwork attire on certain days for specific purposes, in line with paragraph 13 of Section UP.7.2.3.

"Officers are also allowed to wear corporate attire every day except on Thursdays. However, this requirement does not apply to officers who are required to wear uniforms," he said.

It was earlier reported that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof announced stricter energy management in government buildings, including setting air-conditioning temperatures to a minimum of 24° Celsius.

The move reflects the government's commitment to leading by example in prudent energy use and is part of proactive measures to tackle the global energy crisis. - NST

Firefighters battle blaze at Cheras factory

 

Firefighters are battling a blaze at a mattress factory in Kampung Batu 10, Cheras, that has destroyed about 80 per cent of the building. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Dept

KUALA LUMPUR: Firefighters are battling a blaze at a mattress factory in Kampung Batu 10, Cheras, which has destroyed around 80 per cent of the building.

The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 9.32pm and arrived at the scene within 17 minutes, assistant director (operations) Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said in a statement.

Fire crews are currently working to contain the flames at the factory, a Class A structure, spans roughly 200 by 100 square feet.

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Units from Bandar Tun Hussein Onn, Pandan, Seri Kembangan, and Kajang fire stations have been deployed.

A total of 29 personnel, supported by four fire engines, two emergency medical units, and a water tanker, are on site under the direction of operations commander Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman.

No injuries have been reported, and firefighters are continuing their efforts to bring the fire under control. - NST

TPM jangka tekanan harga barang dalam tempoh 2 bulan

 Fadillah Yusof berkata 'stok barangan akan datang dengan harga yang baharu' susulan peningkatan bahan api dan kos kapal terbang.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah Yusof, berkata proses pemulihan bekalan tenaga global dijangka ambil masa panjang berikutan kemusnahan terhadap fasiliti penapisan minyak, sekali pun perang di Timur Tengah berakhir. (Gambar Bernama)

PETALING JAYA:

 Rakyat akan mula merasai tekanan harga barang dalam tempoh dua bulan mendatang kesan peningkatan kos bahan api, logistik, dan insurans akibat konflik di Timur Tengah.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah Yusof, berkata ketika ini tekanan itu kurang dirasai memandangkan ‘stok barangan tempatan dalam negara masih ada’.

Katanya, kenaikan harga dijangka berlaku apabila ‘stok-stok baharu akan datang’.

“Jadi, sebab itu kos petrol, diesel, minyak, dan kapal terbang akan naik…di mana kita akan dapat merasai kelak sebab kos logistik dan insurans juga meningkat.

“Kesannya mungkin dapat dirasai dalam dua bulan yang akan datang sebab masa sekarang, stok barangan tempatan kita yang ada dalam negara masih ada.

“Tapi lepas ini, stok-stok baharu akan datang dengan harga yang baharu,” katanya menurut Utusan Borneo, di Kuching.

Fadillah menjelaskan, meskipun konflik perang Amerika Syarikat-Israel dengan Iran berakhir, proses pemulihan bekalan tenaga global dijangka mengambil masa panjang berikutan kemusnahan terhadap fasiliti penapisan minyak.

Katanya, sekurang-kurangnya enam bulan diperlukan untuk memulihkan bekalan tenaga global pada tahap 50%, manakala pemulihan sepenuhnya boleh mencecah sehingga setahun.

Fadillah berkata, Malaysia ketika ini berada pada kedudukan lebih baik berbanding beberapa negara Asean, namun langkah berjimat cermat tetap perlu dilaksanakan sebagai persediaan berdepan ketidaktentuan.

Beliau berkata, di Filipina, lebih 400 stesen minyak dilaporkan telah ditutup sehingga memaksa pelaksanaan pencatuan bahan api, manakala Indonesia dan Thailand turut mengambil langkah sama.

Justeru, katanya kerajaan turut memperkenalkan langkah penjimatan tenaga bagi memanjangkan tempoh rizab tenaga negara.

“Langkah ini penting bagi memastikan bekalan tenaga dapat bertahan lebih lama, terutama jika konflik berlarutan,” katanya. - FMT

Pertahan konvoi PN, Sanusi jelas peserta guna wang sendiri, bukan dana kerajaan

 Pengarah pilihan raya PAS berkata, peserta himpunan sanggup belanja wang sendiri demi perjuang isu lebih besar bebankan negara.

MB Kedah Sanusi Nor yang juga pengarah pilihan raya PAS minta Nurul Izzah Anwar beri tumpuan kepada isu dalaman PKR terlebih dahulu sebelum kritik program pihak lain.

PETALING JAYA:

 Menteri Besar Kedah Sanusi Nor mempertahankan penganjuran konvoi motosikal Perikatan Nasional (PN) Sabtu lalu dengan menegaskan ribuan peserta hadir atas kesedaran sendiri walaupun dunia sedang berdepan krisis tenaga global.

Menurut Sanusi, peserta himpunan itu sanggup mengeluarkan wang sendiri untuk mengisi minyak motosikal kerana merasakan terdapat isu lebih besar yang sedang membebankan negara ketika ini.

“Bagi peserta, berbanding isu harga minyak mahal, ada perkara lain yang lebih membebankan negara ketika ini, iaitu kerajaan pusat Pakatan Harapan (PH) dan Barisan Nasional (BN) yang pada pandangan mereka perlu diturunkan pada PRU akan datang.

“Sebab itu mereka sanggup hadir dan menyokong program anjuran Perikatan Nasional (PN). Mereka juga setuju dengan usaha memperkukuh perpaduan ummah, khususnya penyatuan Islam dan Melayu, sebab itu mereka datang beramai-ramai,” katanya kepada FMT, sambil menambah, ini membuktikan semangat akar umbi PN masih kukuh.

Sanusi turut menyamakan tindakan tersebut dengan usaha rakyat Iran yang menderma untuk melawan Amerika Syarikat (AS) dan Israel.

“Kenapa mereka sanggup? Sebab mereka melihat bahaya kejahatan AS dan Israel lebih besar daripada kesan kehilangan harta benda mereka.

“Sama juga dengan kami. Bahaya politik PH dan BN ketika ini lebih besar daripada habis duit poket untuk beli minyak motosikal,” tegasnya.

Sabtu lepas, PN mengadakan konvoi motosikal, melibatkan menteri besar Perlis, Terengganu, Kedah dan Kelantan, yang ditadbir pembangkang.

Acara yang dilaporkan dihadiri lebih 100,000 peserta itu diadakan sempena Perhimpunan Penyatuan Ummah Antarabangsa Kelima bersama Himpunan Dunia Melayu 2026 di Kompleks Sukan Terengganu, Kuala Nerus.

Nurul Izzah Anwar bagaimanapun tampil mengkritik acara tersebut, menyifatkannya sebagai pembaziran besar-besaran ketika dunia berdepan krisis tenaga global.

Timbalan presiden PKR itu berkata, kerajaan di seluruh dunia sebaliknya sedang bertindak segera menangani krisis bahan api dengan menjimatkan penggunaan, membina simpanan dan mempersiapkan ekonomi masing-masing menghadapi ketidaktentuan yang berpanjangan.

Dalam pada itu, Sanusi yang juga pengarah pilihan raya PAS menyindir Nurul Izzah supaya memberi tumpuan kepada isu dalaman PKR terlebih dahulu sebelum mengkritik program pihak lain.

“Beritahu adinda Nurul Izzah, selesaikan dulu masalah dalam ‘rumah tangga’ sendiri sebelum sibuk dengan program orang lain. Mereka sekarang pun sedang berperang teruk susulan perebutan jawatan timbalan presiden PKR tempoh hari.

“Apabila masalah parti diheret menjadi masalah kerajaan dan akhirnya masalah negara, semuanya jadi berselerak. Bukan mereka yang rugi, tetapi rakyat yang akhirnya menanggung kesan,” katanya. - FMT

State media says Iran rejects ceasefire proposal

 News agency IRNA reports that Iran has conveyed to Pakistan its response to the American proposal to end the war.

IRNA said Tehran had countered with demands of its own, including an end to conflicts in the region and a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. (AFP pic)

TEHRAN:

 Iran has rejected a proposed truce in its war with the US and Israel, state media reported today, despite a stark threat by US president Donald Trump to destroy its vital infrastructure.

“Iran has conveyed to Pakistan its response to the American proposal to end the war,” the news agency IRNA said, without revealing its source or what the US offer contained.

“In this response – set out in ten points – Iran… has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict,” IRNA said.

Several countries are trying to find a diplomatic solution to end 38 days of war sparked by Israeli and US attacks against Iran, which has responded by firing missiles at targets across the Middle East.

Trump warned on Sunday that unless Tehran agreed by Tuesday evening to allow free passage to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, he would order strikes on its power plants and bridges.

However, IRNA said Tehran had countered with demands of its own, including “an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions”. - FMT

Union urges govt to monitor Batik Air’s cost-cutting measures

 The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia says it opposes the carrier’s move to offer voluntary unpaid leave to employees following a reduction in flight frequencies.

Batik Air Malaysia said last week it remains financially sound but is taking proactive steps to ensure its long-term sustainability.

PETALING JAYA:

 The National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has called on the government to look into Batik Air Malaysia’s decision to reduce flight schedules and offer voluntary unpaid leave to its staff.

The union said it strongly opposes the airline’s move to offer voluntary unpaid leave to its 3,500 employees following a 35% reduction in flight frequencies in April amid rising jet fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.

It urged transport minister Loke Siew Fook and human resources minister R Ramanan to “closely monitor” the situation, warning against what it described as arbitrary reductions in workers’ income during periods of fuel price volatility.

“The government must not allow airlines or companies to arbitrarily reduce workers’ income whenever fuel costs rise. This is a temporary challenge, not a permanent condition,” it said in a statement.

Nufam noted that although the unpaid leave is labelled “voluntary”, it was concerned about possible implicit pressure on staff to take unpaid leave in the name of “saving” the company.

“Any form of coercion or discrimination against those who choose not to apply for unpaid leave is unacceptable,” it said.

The union also questioned the airline’s risk management strategy, particularly its reported lack of fuel hedging contracts to cushion against volatile global oil prices.

The failure to take such precautionary measures should not result in disruptions to employees’ livelihoods through unpaid leave, it said.

It stressed that employee welfare must not be treated as a last resort, adding that the airline should explore other cost-saving measures that do not affect basic salaries or the staff’s financial stability.

Global average jet fuel prices stood at US$195 per barrel last week, according to International Air Transport Association data.

Based on the data, the global average jet fuel price was around US$95.95 per barrel for the week ending Feb 20, with prices spiking significantly following attacks on Iran by the US and Israel on Feb 28. - FMT