Day: March 18, 2023

PUTRAJAYA, A total of 2,000 individuals participated in Puspanita Lavender Run 2023, organised by the Association of Wives and Women Members of the Malaysian Civil Service (Puspanita), at Dataran Wawasan, here today.

Held in conjunction with Puspanita’s fourth anniversary, it was officiated by the association’s patron Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh; Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, who is also Puspanita adviser; and Puspanita president Puan Sri Norizam Che Mohd Nor were also present.

The Puspanita Lavender Run 2023 features three categories — 10 kilometres (km) and 5 km Adult Open as well as a 2.5 km run for children.

An exhibition of community sports activities, performances by buskers from the Malaysian Information Department (JaPen), and activities for children were also held in conjunction with the event.

Dr Wan Azizah in her speech before the flagging-off ceremony asked participants to be careful during the run and always take care of their health.

Puspanita, which has about 145,000 members, was established on March 1, 1983.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) has introduced 12 resort operators under the Gate to Global – Resort Entrepreneur Development (GTG-PURE) programme at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) fair.

Its chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki in a statement today said the MATTA fair was the best platform to highlight and expand the promotional network for tourist destination attractions offered by resort operators under the GTG-PURE initiative.

“The GTG-PURE programme which was implemented in 2019 focuses on developing and empowering hotel, resort, chalet and inn entrepreneurs to be more competitive in the country’s tourism industry,” he said, adding that so far, it has developed 184 entrepreneurs that will boost the country’s tourism sector.

According to him, MARA’s first-time participation in the fair also supports the recovery of the country’s tourism sector which took a toll during the pandemic, in addition to increasing sales and creating a business network of entrepreneurs in the tourism industry.

Asyraf Wajdi today attended the exhibition which runs until tomorrow (March 19) at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) to meet with the GTG-PURE entrepreneurs.

He also witnessed the exchange of the cooperation certificate between MAGADH Travel & Tours Pvt Ltd New Delhi, India, with six GTG-PURE entrepreneurs namely TY Hotel, Warisan Pahlawan Resort, Forest Paradise Inn, Glamping Park Travel and Tour Sdn Bhd, Pangkor Village Beach Resort (Perak) and Kulapuan Resort (Sabah).

This collaboration is expected to bring RM7.2 million in potential sales through the hosting of weddings and corporate events and the offering of holiday packages by the GTG-PURE entrepreneurs, he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The quota application and approval for foreign workers including through the Foreign Worker Employment Relaxation Plan (PKPPA) has been postponed beginning today until a date to be announced later.

Human Resource Minister V. Sivakumar said the decision was made after the ministry approved a total of 995,396 employment quotas for foreign workers from various sectors as of Tuesday (March 14).

He said that the number of quota approvals had taken into account foreign worker quota applications that were normally processed and through the PKPPA which includes five critical sectors, namely manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and services (restaurants only).

“The approval of the foreign worker quota so far is expected to be able to meet the needs of foreign labour by industries, including in critical sectors,” he said in a statement today.

In addition, he said the postponement was to ensure that employers who were given quota approval to start making plans for the immediate entry of foreign workers.

“I urge all employers who have the approval to speed up the process of hiring the workers during this period of time.

“The number of foreign workers coming in is still low compared to the number of quotas that have been approved by the ministry,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

BAGAN DATUK, The Cabinet has decided that part of the additional allocation of RM150 million announced yesterday will be used for the construction of Bailey bridges in flood-affected areas in Johor.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the construction involved collapsed roads including in Sekijang.

“Its MP has told me the need for a Bailey bridge (there).

“The district-level coordinating committee will be able to install the Bailey bridge before the repairs and upgrading of the roads are completed,” he told reporters at the Bagan Datuk UMNO division delegates meeting here today.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ordered all government machinery to help in post-flood operations in Johor and approved an additional allocation of RM150 million for this.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said post-flood works at about 15 affected schools in Johor are being carried out to ensure students can return to school for the 2023/2024 academic calendar scheduled for tomorrow.

He asked parents to be patient if the schools involved are still unable to operate and the government through the central disaster committee as well as the state and district disaster committees are trying to coordinate the recovery work.

“The stagnant floodwaters happening in five districts in Johor, God willing, will recede because the there’s no more rain and works to pump out floodwaters being carried out.

“There is the addition of high-powered pumps for low-lying areas,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

SEREMBAN, The Negeri Sembilan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) foiled the activities of misappropriation of suspected subsidised diesel, amounting to 15,000 litres worth RM32,250, at premises in Rantau near here yesterday.

Its director, Muhammad Zahir Mazlan said during the ‘Op Tiris’ raid at about 6 pm, KPDN seized a lorry, tanker and equipment used for the activities. The total value of all seized items was RM98,950.

“The inspection at the premises found the activity of transferring diesel fuel being carried out with the involved individuals did not have special licences or permits or authorisation letters from the Controller of Supplies to deal with Scheduled Controlled Goods,” he said in a statement today.

He said two local men, aged 50 and 52, were arrested to help in the investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

Muhammad Zahir said inspections and operations conducted under Op Tiris were to curb the issue of misappropriation and leakage of subsidised diesel and impose strict action against irresponsible individuals or companies.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency