Bernama news in brief (2) May 20

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 -- The following is the second batch of Bernama news in brief today:

 

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI) is organising the Federal Territory Bermunajat (special prayers in the form of zikir) programme every day starting today during the Movement Control Order (MCO), following the increase in COVID-19 cases that have hit the country.

JAWI director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail said the programme would be held after Maghrib and Friday prayers at mosques, surau as well as respective residences throughout the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan.

"The imams working in mosques and surau will recite zikir and doa text prepared by the Federal Territory Mufti's Office using loudspeakers that are clearly heard by congregation members," he said in a statement here today.

 

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The Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) is requesting that the government expand the e-wallet credit assistance programme through the eBelia Programme to cover youths aged 25 or 30 years.

MBM information chief Wan Mohd Husni Abdullah in a statement said this is because the majority of youths aged 25 to 30 are still studying at tertiary institutes and they facing difficulty to generate income as the COVID-19 pandemic has not stabilised.

"It is hoped that the eBelia Programme can be targeted not only to the youths in these institutions but also involve all other youth groups as stipulated in the Malaysian Youth Policy (DBM) 2015.

"These include youths with careers, youth groups, international Malaysian youths, at-risk youths, minority youths and marginalised groups," he said.

 

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A total of 4,000 frontline workers, senior citizens and at-risk groups have received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Bachok district since last March.

Bachok District COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Health Team coordinator Dr Azilawati Dollah said according to the data obtained, a total of 105,600 recipients were eligible to receive the shots in the district and so far an average of 300 to 400 people were vaccinated daily, with a target of 800 recipients a day from June.

"The registration rate among the population is still low, which means that appointments are not given to recipients," she said at the Bachok District Vaccination Programme press conference today.

 

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An employer was fined RM10,000 while four men were compounded RM2,000 each for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the Movement Control Order (MCO) by riding in a vehicle in excess of its permitted capacity, yesterday.

Jempol police chief Supt Hoo Chang Hook said all the men, aged between 20 and 26, were arrested during a SOP compliance in Kampung Serampang Indah (Gatco), Jempol, at 9.50 am morning.

Hoo added that a 26-year-old lorry driver was also compounded RM5,000 in Jalan Besar Bahau-Tampin, Jempol, for failing to submit a letter of permission for inter-district or inter-state travel. 

 

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A baby boy with umbilical cord intact found alive was not only abandoned at the back of a house of a foreign national in Kampung Kayu Ara, Petaling Jaya early today, he was also left in the cold and found covered with ants.

The naked baby was found in a black plastic bag on a table at 4.50 am by members of the public who were in the area, said Petaling Jaya district police chief, ACP Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid.  

He said his department received a call from the public who informed them about this 20 minutes later after hearing the baby crying.

"Preliminary investigation found that the baby was believed not to be from the residential area because there were no women there who were pregnant," he said in a statement today.

Mohamad Fakhrudin said the baby boy was rescued and taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for further examination.

 

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A single mother claimed trial in the Magistrate's Court in Kuantan today to 18 charges of cheating the owner of a cosmetics shop amounting to more than RM19,000.

Aini@Arsah Mohamad, 41, who works as a restaurant assistant, made the plea after the charges against her were read out before Magistrate Najwa Hashim.

The mother of two allegedly coaxed a 25-year-old woman to hand over cash amounting to between RM200 and RM1,700 as well as a gold bracelet worth RM2,300 to recover her money from another individual.

She was accused of committing the offence in front of a shop in Bukit Setongkol and at the premises of a shopping centre between April 26 and May 10.

The accused, whose address is at Taman Pandan Damai in Kuantan, was charged under Section 420 of the Penal Code which provides for imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than 10 years with whipping and can also be fined, if convicted.

 

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A total of 80 per cent of the 1,306 Malaysia Vaccine Support Volunteers (MyVac) have received the vaccine shots as a preparatory measure to assist the frontline staff at the Vaccination Centre (PPV).

Youth and Sports deputy minister Wan Ahmad Fahysal Wan Ahmad Kamal said so far, a total of 13,495 youths have registered to become MyVac volunteers with a total of 1,306 people having started working.

He said the establishment of MyVac involved cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysian Red Crescent Society and the Malaysian Youth Council through the Malaysian Scout Federation by assisting tasks at Non-Health PPV such as in public halls.

Speaking to the media after visiting two PPVs near Kapar today, he said so far MyVac volunteers had been working at 11 PPVs of Non-Health Facilities since April 26.

 

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Perak Police will announce more details on the operations, control and enforcement in the four Mukims (sub-districts) in the state which will be subject to the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) from May 22 to June 4.

Perak police chief Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said he would issue a statement on the matter after obtaining the official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) from the National Security Council.

He was responding to a question on how the EMCO would be implemented in mukims as this is the first time it will be enforced in a large area in Perak and whether barbed wire will be installed in every housing estate.

Today, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that EMCO will be implemented in several mukims and localities in six states involving Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak from May 22 to June 4.

 

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A man in his 30’s was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Sabah today on suspicion of submitting false documents when submitting a RM170,000 claim to a government agency in 2018.

According to a source, the man, a company manager involved in the implementation of the Community Drumming Project, was arrested when he was present at the Sabah MACC office in Kota KInabalu at about 11 am.

The claim was made to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Kudat Branch, Sabah for the Community Drumming Project under the National Goods Price Council for the Matunggong and Sikuati areas.

The man was released on MACC bail and is expected to be charged at the Special Sessions Court for Corruption in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Tuesday. (May 25)

 

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The  Pertubuhan Kebajikan Makmur Negeri Johor has launched the Palestine Makmur Humanitarian Fund to help Muslims affected by the series of attacks and atrocities by the Israeli Zionist regime in Palestine since Ramadan.

Its chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the fund launched today until May 31, is a joint venture with Southern Volunteers, assisted by the Johor Youth Council, Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia, Johor, the Dewan Muda Johor and the Institute Dato' Onn.

"The proceeds will be used to help the affected Muslims in Palestine to buy necessities, medical equipment and food.

Those wishing to participate to express solidarity can channel donations starting with RM1 to the CIMB account of Pertubuhan Kebajikan Makmur Negeri Johor 8010597814.

 

-- BERNAMA