Global Digital Store – Ebooks and Softwares

Tag: Today

Bersih questions use of aid packages featuring names and faces of politicians

PETALING JAYA: The coalition for clean and fair elections (Bersih 2.0) has expressed concern over the faces and names of elected politicians appearing on Covid-19 gifts for constituents such as rice and hand sanitisers.

They alleged some may involve abuse of government funding and has called on all involved representatives to publicly declare the cost and source of such gifts.

“If government funds are abused for politicians to seek gratification, it may warrant investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Section 23 of the MACC Act,” they said in a statement today.

They have gathered as many as 19 politicians and classified them into three categories with different issues.

The categories are:

> Category A: Whereby federal and state frontbenchers have obviously abused their positions as ministers or state excos to provide Covid-19 gifts to their constituents.

> Category B: Whereby elected representatives may have used constituency allocations to distribute these items

> Category C: Those who fork out their own money to distribute Covid-19 gifts to their constituents.

Bersih 2.0 said two federal ministers, a federal deputy minister and a state exco have their faces and names featured on gift packs in both their capacities as federal/state minister and constituency.

“If the gifts were funded using executive resources under their watch, Bersih 2.0 believes they have abused their ministerial power and should be subject to investigation under the MACC Act. However, if the funds have come from their Constituency Development Fund or other constituency allocation, their cases would be the same as in category B,” it said.

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/bersih-questions-use-of-aid-packages-featuring-names-and-faces-of-politicians-CE2204037

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
Only immediate family allowed at burial grounds during MCO: Tosrin

JOHOR BARU: Only immediate family members are allowed to accompany a body when it is taken to a Muslim cemetery, in efforts to contain Covid-19 virus, during the Movement Control Order (MCO) which has been extended until April 14.

Johor Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanthi said this is one of the guidelines which the close relatives must abide by, in the event of a death in the family, including Covid-19 related death, in which case the nearest police station and district health office must be informed.

“Taking into account the current Covid-19 situation and the views of the Ministry of Health, the next-of-kin must adhere to the guidelines applicable to all government and kariah muslim burial grounds,“ he told reporters, here today.

Also present were Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) advisor Datuk Noh Gadut, Johor mufti Datuk Yahya Ahmad, Johor Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ) director Datuk Md Rofiki Samsudin and MAINJ chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Noh Ibrahim.

Apart from that, Tosrin said those attending the funeral should disperse immediately after the talkin has been recited by the imam.

“They must also wear a mask, wash their hands with sanitisers and practice social distancing by keeping a distance of at least one metre, use other personal protective equipment if necessary, and no body contact or hand shakes are allowed,” he said.

He said while the MCO is being enforced, relatives and family members are only allowed to be at the burial ground when the funeral rites are being performed.

In another development, Tosrin called on Muslims in the state to perform the Amalan Johor Bermunajat special prayers in their homes, beginning from tomorrow until April 4, to seek protection from Allah SWT in efforts to contain Covid-19.

He said the Qunut Nazilah is to be recited during maghrib prayers, which is to be followed by solat hajat (prayer of need) and recitation of Surah Yasin and tahlil until it is time for Isyak prayers.

“The Qunut Nazilah should also be recited when performing Isyak prayer. After the recitation of Surah Al-Mulk, Selawat Kamilah and Asmaul Husna make a special prayer seeking Allah‘s mercy and bounty to keep us safe and relieve us from the pandemic,“ he added.

According to Tosrin, the guidelines for the Amalan Johor Bermunajat, would be uploaded onto JAINJ Facebook, while a live streaming of the prayers performed by Sultan Abu Bakr Mosque officials, would be broadcast via Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque Facebook soon after the call for maghrib prayers tomorrow.

In another development Noh Gadut encouraged Muslims to perform the funeral prayer in absentia for those who died from Covid-19 infection.

“In view of the MCO ruling to curb the spread of Covid-19, once we are aware of a death and the remains will be laid to rest, perform the funeral prayers at home,” he said. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/only-immediate-family-allowed-at-burial-grounds-during-mco-tosrin-IY2203974

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
Prihatin: ‘No record’ individuals can make new applications, says IRB

KUALA LUMPUR: Individuals who received a ‘no record’ result when checking the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) aid via the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) official portal can make new applications online until April 30.

All they have to do is to click on the ‘new application’ icon and follow the instructions given to make the application.

IRB said in a statement today that manual applications using the form was not possible now as all IRB premises would be temporarily closed until the Movement Control Order (MCO) period ends on April 14.

According to IRB, appeals on unsuccessful applications could be submitted through the agency’s official portal https://www.hasil.gov.my or https://bpn.hasil.gov.my starting April 3.

However, Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) aid recipients in the B40 group and the M40 who have income tax data with the IRB do not need to register for the BPN.

The BSH recipients are automatically eligible for BPN, while the M40 group will be evaluated based on the amount of income and other criteria set by the government.

Due to high traffic to access the official portal, the public were advised to check their status during non-peak hours.

The situation occurred because the application for BPN was opened today.

BPN is part of the initiatives under the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (Prihatin) announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently.

The Hasil Care Line (HCL) call centre, which resumed operation on March 30, operates throughout the MCO period from 9am to 5pm from Sundays until Fridays and could be reached at 03-89111000 or +603-89111000 for those who are abroad.

Any enquires concerning the BSH can be directed to the toll-free line at 1800-88-2747. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/prihatin-no-record-individuals-can-make-new-applications-says-irb-AY2203929

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
MOHE denies chartering aircraft to bring home Malaysian students in Egypt

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has denied claims which went viral on social media sites on the involvement of the Malaysian government in chartering a special flight to bring home Malaysian students in Egypt.

According to MOHE, in a statement posted on Facebook today, the allegations also sparked panic among students and parents.

“MOHE has been in touch with the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo (MEIC) and was informed that there is still no need to bring Malaysian students home at this time.

“In this regard, MOHE has never appointed any private party as representative to bring the students home from Egypt and advised students and parents to obey the instructions issued by the Egyptian Government and related universities as a measure to curb the spread of Covid-19,” he said.

The statement said students with any problem could report to the MEIC or the Education Malaysia Egypt (EME).

MOHE also advised students and parents to always ensure that the source of information received such as on evacuation or other matters was via the official announcement of Wisma Putra or MEIC to avoid any future inconvenience.

“Any further detail could be obtained from +20 111 333 0857 or +20 106 042 9387,“ the statement said. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/mohe-denies-chartering-aircraft-to-bring-home-malaysian-students-in-egypt-KY2203905

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
43,462 clinical samples taken for testing so far: Health DG

PUTRAJAYA: A total of 43,462 clinical samples have been taken for Covid-19 testing to date, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

Of those, 2,908 samples tested positive, 32,894 turned out negative while 7,660 samples are pending results, he said.

Dr Noor Hisham said the MOH is capable of handling 11,500 tests daily, now that 48 of its laboratories are working together with those from public and private higher learning institutions, the Malaysia Genome Institute (MGI), Institute For Medical Research (IMR) and Malaysian Armed Forces hospitals.

He said the MOH was also conducting tests on the rapid antigen test kits from South Korea, adding that if the accuracy level to locate Covid-19 is found to be high, the ministry will then order 200,000 units.

Dr Noor Hisham said with those kits, clinical samples need not be sent for laboratory testing any longer.

“Testing can be done at the clinics or hospitals and they would only require biosafety cabinets, so with these test kits from Korea, we would be able to obtain results much faster,” he said at the ministry’s Covid-19 daily briefing, here today. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/43462-clinical-samples-taken-for-testing-so-far-health-dg-YY2203881

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
Remand proceedings during MCO to be held in police stations

PUTRAJAYA: Remand applications during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period will be held at police stations instead of the courts.

Federal Court chief registrar Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, in a letter to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Mazlan Mansor, said Chief Justice Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had agreed to Mazlan’s request to conduct the remand proceedings at police stations throughout the country.

The letter, which was sighted by the media, said the court must be given early notice so that the safety of the court staff, officers and lawyers was guaranteed.

It also said the right of suspects to be represented by lawyers during remand proceedings should not be denied.

The letter said the Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Health Ministry from time to time must also be adhered to.

Mazlan had written to Terriruddin earlier today seeking assistance from the judiciary for suspects not to be brought to court and instead to have magistrates and court registrars despatched to police stations for remand proceedings during the MCO period.

The second phase of the MCO is from today until April 14.

Normally, police will bring suspects to the courts to obtain a remand order which may be up to 14 days, for purposes of investigation. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/remand-proceedings-during-mco-to-be-held-in-police-stations-IY2203857

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
Why Marketing is Like Internet Dating

Our digital world empowers B2B buyers to gather information and make purchasing decisions, without a vendor involved. Consequently, today’s B2B buyers are behaving like B2C buyers.

Read More
http://www.associationofmarketing.org/articles/view.php?article_id=6348

Views: 0

April 1, 2020
Felda defers deduction on settlers’ income until June

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is deferring deduction of its settlers’ income for repayment of crop and socio-economic loans for the month of April to June to help them cope with the situation brought about by the Covid-19 crisis.

Its general manager, Datuk Dr Othman Omar, said it would involve their harvest for the month of March to May, but would not involve deduction for Kedai D’Mart and the agency’s development and security department (JKKR).

“All setters automatically get it. There is no need for them to apply to the Felda management. The deferred deduction will be rescheduled after the postponement period is over. This initiative will benefit more than 92,000 settlers,” he said in a statement today.

Apart from that, Felda has taken proactive steps by setting up the community food centre to assist settlers having financial problems during these trying times.

The centre was set up following an initiative by the Settlers Consultancy Committee (JKPP) and the Settlers and Community Development Department, he added.

Any inquiry on the deferment of the deduction or other matters can be e-mailed to jkk@felda.net.my or Felda Facebook.

Othman said Felda is also offering the use of its hostels and other facilities as quarantine centres to help the government, especially the Ministry of Health (MOH), with its preparation in anticipating the increase in Covid-19 patients next month.

Besides the three hostels in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kuantan in Pahang, Felda also has three training centres (in Kuala Lumpur, Kerteh in Terengganu and Chini in Pahang) and four Felda Residence, at Tanjung Leman in Johor, Sugai Tekam in Pahang, Trolak in Perak and an Felda Sahabat in Sabah.

All these facilities are suitable for use as quarantine centres and can accommodate more than 1,500 people, he said, adding that Felda Sahabat has been activated as a quarantine centre that accommodates 52 patients. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/felda-defers-deduction-on-settlers-income-until-june-BA2200542

Views: 0

March 31, 2020
Menara City One cases linked to Sri Petaling tabligh cluster

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry (MOH) has found that the Covid-19 cases detected at the Menara City One condominium tower in Kuala Lumpur are linked to the Sri Petaling mosque tabligh cluster.

Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the index case at the building had attended the tabligh gathering at the Sri Petaling mosque.

“The index case then went on to infect 12 members of his family in the building.

“The number of cases rose drastically after that, up to 17 cases, which led to the building being subjected to the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO),” Dr Noor Hisham said at the Covid-19 daily media briefing at the ministry, here today.

The government enforced the EMCO on Menara City One, located in Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Kuala Lumpur effective today until April 13.

Dr Noor Hisham added that the MOH has been screening every unit at the condominium tower since yesterday. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/menara-city-one-cases-linked-to-sri-petaling-tabligh-cluster-KA2200518

Views: 0

March 31, 2020
Better air quality since first phase of MCO: Tuan Ibrahim

PUTRAJAYA: The enforcement of the first phase of Movement Control Order (MCO) on March 18 until yesterday has not only helped to break the chain of Covid-19, it has in fact reduced environmental pollution as well, according to Environment Minister Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

“This followed a reduction of activities such as vehicle exhaust emission, industrial stack emission and open burning,” he said.

He said a detailed analysis by the Department of Environment (DOE) on several main parameters namely nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particles of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) found their levels have fallen significantly.

Tuan Ibrahim said the monitoring was conducted at the air quality monitoring stations in Batu Muda and Cheras in Kuala Lumpur as well as Putrajaya.

“All three areas recorded marked drop of between 55 to 68% for NO2; 17 to 34% for SO2; six to 15% for CO; and six to 14% for PM2.5,” he said in a statement, here today.

Tuan Ibrahim said apart from that, DOE also expanded the analysis to air quality monitoring stations at several major cities such as Shah Alam, Ipoh, Penang, Kuantan, Seremban, Melaka, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu for the same period.

“The findings also showed significant fall in each parameter with NO2 reduced between 11 to 62%, SO2 between five to 22%, CO between two to 25% and PM2.5 between two to 23%,” he said.

The latest hourly Air Pollutant Index (API) is available on DOE website at http://apims.doe.gov.my/v2/ or by downloading the official smart phone application, MyIPU via Android Google Play and at Apple App Store.

Tuan Ibrahim also advised the people not to carry out opening burning to reduce the risk of fires in the hot and dry weather now.

Members of the public can report cases of open burning to the Fire and Rescue Department at 999 or DOE’s toll free line at 1-800-88-2727. – Bernama

Read More
https://www.thesundaily.my/local/better-air-quality-since-first-phase-of-mco-tuan-ibrahim-EA2200431

Views: 0

March 31, 2020