Day: April 28, 2023

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HEATSTROKE: CABINET NEEDS TO DISCUSS SUGGESTED EXTENSION OF SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

The Cabinet needs to discuss whether there is a need to extend the school holidays following a heatwave that is hitting the country currently.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the National Disaster Management Committee secretariat had already met and implemented coordinated efforts with various related ministries and agencies.

Currently the country’s climate has changed with the occurence of heat waves, especially in Kelantan, that resulted in two deaths involving children.

“I think it (school holiday extension) should be discussed at the Cabinet meeting.

“As chairman of the national disaster committee, we have coordinated efforts with state governments, the Health Ministry (MOH) and local authorities, not only to monitor but to help those suffering from heatstroke due to climate change,” he told reporters at the Pontian UMNO division Aidilfitri Open House in Benut here today.

The Bagan Datuk MP also reminded the public to take precautionary measures due to the heatwave, adding that the MOH has also taken several measures to tackle problems resulting from this phenomenon.

“We advise those in areas affected by the heatwave to drink more water but I have been informed by the Meteorological Department that the heatwave will end in mid-May.

“So, I hope that even though this is new we have to be careful and take several health measures,” Ahmad Zahid said when asked if there was a need to extend the school holidays and the government’s measures to tackle the heatwave.

Two children, an 11-year-old boy, and a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, were reported to have died due to heatstroke recently.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Cambodian Cabinet Meeting Approves Draft Law on Approval of ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement

The draft law on approval of ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement was endorsed by the Cambodian cabinet ministers in their weekly plenary meeting held here at the Peace Palace this morning under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

The approval was made known by H.E. Phay Siphan, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and Head of the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit on his Facebook page.

According to the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement was signed by the ASEAN Economic Ministers on Oct. 7, 2020. The agreement affirms ASEAN’s commitment to free and open trade and regional economic integration, against the present multifaceted challenges of trade tensions, global pandemic and economic uncertainties.

The objectives of the agreement are to strengthen economic linkages and provide greater opportunities for economic development; increase trade and investment in the area of services and create larger markets and greater economies of scale; and reduce barriers to trade and investment in services and create a predictable business environment.

The agreement is also aimed to strengthen economic relations between Member States through: inter alia promoting and facilitating utilisation of the greater opportunities provided by the Agreement; promoting regulatory cooperation; developing co-operation in the field of human resource development; and increasing the participation of small and medium enterprises in trade and investment activities; and narrow development gaps between Member States to achieve a more equitable, balanced and sustainable socio-economic development.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)

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Environmental and Natural Resources Draft Code Approved

The weekly cabinet meeting, held here at the Peace Palace this morning under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, approved the draft Code on Environment and Natural Resources.

According to H.E. Phay Siphan, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and Head of the Royal Government Spokesperson Unit, the draft code is aimed to strengthen and improve the management of environment; protection, conservation and restoration of natural resources, biodiversity and ecological functions, and sustainable living.

The draft code, composed of 12 chapters and 888 articles, will also expand the possibility of ministries, institutions and social milieus to further take part in environmental protection and natural resources and biodiversity management and preservation, he added.

The drafting process took nearly eight years to complete with comprehensive inputs from relevant ministries and institutions.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP)

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OPS SUDAN COMPLETED, ALL 30 MALAYSIANS RETURN SAFELY

The operation to bring back 30 Malaysians from Sudan under Ops Sudan in conflict-ravaged country is over with everyone arriving home safely without any injuries, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

“(Their) long journey from Khartoum took 30 hours over 1,300 kilometres… with various obstacles and finally today they arrived safely at KLIA,” he told the media after welcoming the arrival of the 30 Malaysians at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in here today.

Zambry said that even though Ops Sudan has been completed, Wisma Putra is still closely following developments in Sudan.

“If there are Malaysians still stranded in Sudan, the families are told to inform Wisma Putra so that we can help find them. I advise Malaysians who want to visit Sudan to postpone their trip until the situation improves,” he said. Also present was Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin.

He said the Malaysian Embassy in Sudan is temporarily closed and all related matters will be handled by the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo.

More than 400 people were reported killed and more than 3,500 injured as a result of the armed conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary force that broke out on April 15.

On April 25, it was reported that 30 Malaysians who were stranded in Khartoum, had safely arrived in Port Sudan at 2.07 pm Monday Sudan time (8.07 pm Malaysia time) after a 30-hour journey covering a distance of 1,233 kilometres.

It was reported that there were 32 Malaysians in Sudan in seven different places and on April 21, two Malaysians were taken out and transferred to a safe place.

The two Malaysians were individuals who serve with the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in Abyei and their evacuation process will be carried out by the UN.

Zambry said the success of bringing home all the registered Malaysians was the result of the joint efforts of all parties including the concern expressed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“The good relationship between His Majesty (Al Sultan Abdullah) and the President of the UAE (Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan) aided (the process) of getting Malaysians out.

“Thank you also to the Prime Minister for his care in following every development and taking steps to ensure that the operation can be carried out as best as possible, including contacting the leadership involved in the dispute,” he said.

Zambry also expressed his appreciation to the UAE and Saudi Arabia for also helping to get all 30 Malaysians from Sudan.

Zambry said the Malaysian side also helped evacuate some other nationals from Sudan including the United States, Cambodia and Singapore, in addition to Palestinian, Filipino and Thai nationals who also arrived at KLIA today with the 30 Malaysians.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency