Partial lockdown at health ministry training institute in Johor

 

An administrative EMCO is in place at the health ministry training institute in Kempas, Johor Bahru.

BATU PAHAT: The Health Ministry Training Institute in Kempas, Johor Bahru district, has been placed under an administrative enhanced movement control order from yesterday, health minister Dr Adham Baba said today.

He said the administrative EMCO would be enforced for 14 days after taking into account the high number of Covid-19 cases in the area.

“We are enforcing the Targeted EMCO or administrative EMCO in the Kempas ILKKM as it has recorded a high number of cases.

“The administrative EMCO will allow us to enforce MCO in certain localities only, not throughout Johor Bahru,” he said. Adham said that as of today, 56 active Covid-19 cases were recorded in Johor Bahru, with 42 from the Kempas Cluster which also comprises the training institute.

The rest were from the Meldrum Cluster(six cases) and Bayu Cluster (eight), he said.

In a related development,  Adham said there were signs of a reduction in Covid-19 cases in Sabah, with the infectivity rate or R-naught at almost 1.0 for the time being.

“The R-naught shows the possibility of cases increasing or reducing, and we already have the projection, which is almost 1.0.

“The 1.0 means that the infectivity rate is only from one patient to another and we are trying to reduce the R-naught to below one by enforcing EMCO in some other areas, such as in Tawau, Sandakan and Kepayan Prison,” he said. - FMT

Tamrin sends legal letter to Zuraida over claims on direct tender project

 

Former Batu Berendam MP Tamrin Abdul Ghafar said he has sent a notice of demand via his lawyer to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin over her remarks tying him to the direct tender of a solid waste transfer station project.

“A notice of demand dated Oct 13, 2020 has been sent by my lawyer Ramkarpal Singh to Zuraida and was accepted by her political secretary on Oct 14, 2020,” Tamrin said in a statement today.

He said he also sent similar notices of demand to Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, “bloggers" and others who he claimed have cast aspersions against him including Bersatu supreme council member Aziz Yassin.

“I will continue to pursue legal action against them if they fail to fulfil my demands.

“I am ready to cooperate with the police and the MACC if necessary,” Tamrin said.

Previously, Zuraida had claimed that Tamrin, as an adviser to Bumi Segar Indah, had approached then finance minister Lim Guan Eng to directly negotiate the solid waste transfer station project in Taman Beringin, Jinjang Utara on Nov 26, 2018.

The Ampang MP claimed Lim had advised Bumi Segar Indah to present her ministry with a formal proposal and that he eventually approved the project through a letter dated Feb 20, 2019.

Tamrin later denied this and said the project was actually awarded through direct negotiations under BN in 2017 and that the minister in charge at the time was Mohd Noh Omar.

The solid waste transfer project was among 101 direct negotiation contracts which Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz claimed was approved by the Pakatan Harapan government.

However, most of the projects on the list were approved during BN’s tenure in Putrajaya. - Mkini

ERC man moots 3 ways to have polls, avoid emergency

 

Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) member and political scientist Wong Chin Huat has suggested three ways elections can be held without the executive resorting to an emergency proclamation.

This follows Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's televised address to explain his logic for seeking an emergency proclamation to avoid by-elections and the Sarawak election due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"If Bersatu stays out of the Batu Sapi by-election, like how Pakatan Harapan stayed out of the Chini by-election, then even if some minor parties or independent candidates take part, the by-election will be a non-event," said Wong.

The Batu Sapi by-election is slated for Dec 5. So far, Harapan, BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) have vowed to stay out of the by-election in hope that Warisan, which won the seat in 2018, would be given a walkover.

The Batu Sapi constituency is part of the Sandakan district, which as of noon yesterday, registered 875 new Covid-19 cases over a 14-day period.

Secondly, Wong said that an emergency proclamation need not be sought now to prevent the Sarawak state elections since legally the election can be delayed up until Aug 5.

"If Gabungan Parti Sarawak serves a full term, why do we need an emergency for 10 months?" asked Wong.

Article 21(4) of the Constitution of Sarawak stipulates that an election for the Sarawak legislative assembly must be held within sixty days of the date of the dissolution.

The Sarawak legislative assembly will automatically dissolve on June 7 next year.

Lastly, Wong argued that some countries such as South Korea, Singapore and New Zealand have shown that there are mechanisms to prevent a surge in Covid-19 cases.

Wong said that there can be extensive facilities for absentee voting to reduce crowds at polling stations and prevent inter-state or inter-district travel.

"There can be televised debates between party leaders and free airtime for all candidates in all constituencies to replace rallies and door-to-door canvassing.

"And have rigorous enforcement of Covid-19 SOPs for VVIPs," said Wong.

Wong is a member of the ERC that was set up by the previous prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The ERC had submitted 49 recommendations to the current prime minister to overhaul the election system, which includes a closed-list proportional representation system to replace the current first-past-the-post system.

By late November, the ERC will disbanded. - Mkini

A framework for all MPs to pass the budget, promises PM

 

PETALING JAYA: A form of understanding can be shaped between both ruling and opposition MPs to ensure that Budget 2021 will be passed, promises Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a live telecast on Saturday (Oct 31), Muhyiddin urged all MPs to put aside political differences to pass the Budget 2021 for the sake of the people and the country.

"A form of understanding can be created among members of parliament to enable Budget 2021 to be passed with the support of government and opposition MPs.

"I hope all MPs can put aside their political differences to ensure Budget 2021 is passed for the sake of the people and the country.

"I give my word that the Perikatan Nasional government will continue to find the best way to manage this big crisis that we are facing now. Our goal is only one, that is to win in our fight against Covid-19 and ensure the safety and welfare of the people.

"In In managing the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government is trying its best to avoid the worst effects on the country's economy which can affect the people's economy negatively.

"I know many are suffering due to retrenchment and loss of income caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Many businesses had to be shut down. More than 800,000 people have lost their jobs. I hear your pleas.

"The government will present Budget 2021 in Dewan Rakyat on Nov 6, with various allocations for the government agencies, aid for the people and incentives for the corporate sector to assist them to face the pandemic and restore the economy.

"God willing, in the Budget to be presented, the government will announce initiatives which will lighten the burden of the people during this difficult time," said Muhyiddin. - Star

MetMalaysia keluar amaran cuaca peringkat waspada di Sabah hingga 2 Nov

 

Hujan lebat dijangka berlaku di Sabah, iaitu di pedalaman Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Keningau dan Tambunan, Sandakan dan Kudat serta Labuan sehingga 2 Nov ini. (Gambar Bernama)

KUALA LUMPUR: Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia) mengeluarkan amaran cuaca peringkat waspada dengan hujan lebat dijangka berlaku di Sabah, sehingga Isnin (2 Nov).

MetMalaysia dalam kenyataan hari ini memaklumkan keadaan itu diramal melanda kawasan pedalaman pantai barat, Sandakan, Kudat dan Labuan.

“Hujan lebat dijangka berlaku di Sabah, iaitu di pedalaman (Sipitang, Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Keningau dan Tambunan), pantai barat, Sandakan (Telupid dan Beluran) dan Kudat serta Labuan sehingga Isnin, 2 Nov,” menurut kenyataan itu, hari ini,

Sementara itu, dalam kenyataan berasingan, MetMalaysia hari ini mengeluarkan notis nasihat Taufan Goni yang berada di kedudukan kira-kira 668km ke tenggara Luzon, Filipina.

MetMalaysia dalam kenyataan memaklumkan Taufan Goni isedang bergerak ke arah barat daya dengan kelajuan 25km sejam (km/j) dan boleh mencapai kelajuan maksimum 213km/j.

Kenyataan itu turut menyebut jarak taufan dari bandar terdekat adalah kira-kira 1,368 km ke timur laut Sandakan, namun tiada kesan signifikan terhadap Malaysia. - FMT

Another potential water disruption averted, this time from factory fire

 

Enforcement officers placing 43 activated carbon bags along Sungai Kundang. (LUAS Facebook pic)

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Water Management Board (LUAS) and Pengurusan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Air Selangor) swung into action by taking early precautionary measures after a level three threshold odour number (TON) pollution incident was detected upstream of Sungai Kuang following a factory fire in Gombak yesterday.

State Environment, Green Technology, Science, Technology and Innovation and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hee Loy Sian said, currently, LUAS, Air Selangor and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) had placed 43 activated carbon bags at Sungai Kundang, which receives the inflow of water from Sungai Kuang, which is one of the main tributaries in the Sungai Selangor basin.

“This move is to prevent the smell from the plastic processing factory fire, which is located 33km from the Rantau Panjang Water Treatment Plant (LRA) that flows into Sungai Sembah and then to Sungai Selangor.

“Until now, LUAS, Air Selangor and MPS are working to stop the waste resulting from the fire from flowing into the river by constructing an earth bund at the site,” Hee said in a statement here today.

Black burnt components from the factory had flowed into the upper streams of Sungai Kuang. (LUAS Facebook pic)

Following the incident, the factory has been issued a water protection order under Section 122 of the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS) Enactment 1999 regarding the risks and threats posed by the incident to the quality of water sources.

“Thus far, the LRA is still operating and no water disruptions are reported. The mitigative follow-ups and surveillance efforts have been stepped up and will be carried out by LUAS and other involved parties from time to time,” Hee said.

He said the odour pollution was detected at 10pm yesterday and the investigation found that remnants from the fire were on the water surface. Black burnt components had flowed into the upper streams of Sungai Kuang. - FMT

RM3 mil allocated to help low-income groups in Labuan hit by CMCO

 

Tenants of public housing, owned by Labuan Corporation, will benefit from rental deferment for three months from October to December this year, says FT Minister Annuar Musa.

LABUAN: The Federal Territories ministry has approved an allocation of RM3.01 million to help ease the financial burden of low-income groups in Labuan following the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO).

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said that assistance through the Wilayah Cakna Initiative 4.0 (IWC 4.0), which started in October and which will last until Dec 31, 2020, was also for athletes who are homeless.

“This is due to the government’s concern to help individuals from the B40 and those in need in the Federal Territory of Labuan, including athletes, sports coaches and homeless individuals who have been adversely affected by Covid-19 and CMCO,” he said in a statement to Bernama today.

He said that 772 licensed hawkers and small traders in Labuan were exempted from paying rent for business premises owned by Labuan Corporation. This involved revenue amounting to RM518,055.

“A total of 468 small traders and public market traders, are also exempted from paying for their respective licence renewals from October to December 2020, involving a reduction of revenue of RM25,275 for Labuan Corporation,” he said.

Annuar also said that 617 tenants of public housing owned by Labuan Corporation also benefited from rental deferment for the same period, involving a total amount of RM519,045.

Meanwhile, 108 landowners, involving 85 companies, will enjoy a discount of 30% for the monthly rate for their land lease, with a total reduction in revenue amounting to RM592,380.

“A total of 2,000 students from poor families in Labuan will receive a school exercise book aid voucher worth RM100 as one-off assistance from the Federal Territory Foundation (YWP), involving an allocation of RM200,000.

“These vouchers can be used in their respective school cooperatives for the purchase of exercise books and stationery for next year’s school session,” he said.

The Federal Territory Sports Council (MSWP) will also continue to provide training allowances to 700 athletes and 103 coaches of the Federal Territory Sukma team with an allocation of RM937,515, although no training and sports activities are being implemented during this CMCO period.

An estimated 300 homeless individuals will also be receiving special incentives from the government, he added.

Programmes, including human capital development; industrial training at the Kuala Lumpur homeless transit centre (PTGKL) and semi-skilled job search/matching in the private sector, have also been designed for those who need help and moral support from all parties. - FMT