News in brief: Feb 9

21,705 CHILDREN AGED 5-11 IN NS REGISTERED FOR PICKids - MB

SEREMBAN -- A total of 21,705 children aged 5 to 11 in Negeri Sembilan have registered for the COVID-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids), said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

He said that of the total, 531 of them have received the first dose of the vaccine from Feb 3 until yesterday, adding that there are 117,200 children aged 5 to 11 in the state.

In a separate development, Aminuddin said the state government will allow Ramadan bazaar to open this year in compliance with the stipulated standard operating procedures (SOP).

The number of bazaars allowed to open in each district would be determined by the local authorities.

-- BERNAMA

 

MARINE POLICE SEIZE CONTRABAND CIGARETTES WORTH RM1.47 MILLION

IPOH --The Region One Marine Police Force (PPM) seized 9,600 cartons of untaxed white cigarettes and 560 cartons of kretek estimated to be worth RM1.47 million during an Op Kontraban raid on an unoccupied house in Pasir Puteh here yesterday.

PPM Region One commander ACP Shamsol Kassim said that acting on a tip-off, police raided the house, suspected to be a storage facility for contraband cigarettes of various brands.

"After a 24-hour surveillance, police had to break open the back door lock of the house when no one turned up. All the cigarettes, which were found kept in 199 boxes in the rooms, are meant to be distributed to the local market,” he said in a statement today.

The case is being investigated under Section 135 (1) (d) of the Customs Act 1967.

-- BERNAMA 

 

 

 PERAK GOVT TO FIND SOLUTION TO PARKING WOES IN HRPB

IPOH -- The Perak government will hold discussions with the State Health Department and Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) management here following numerous complaints from the public regarding the multi-storey car park, which went viral on social media recently.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the state government would find a solution to the parking woes as the multi-storey car park was only for the hospital staff, although initially it was built for hospital visitors.

"The state government will need to intervene if the parking issue becomes a problem to the people,” he told reporters after launching the Ipoh City Council (MBI) Strategic Planning, Ipoh Low Carbon City and Walkable City 2030 here today.

-- BERNAMA 

 

 

NEW MIROS CHAIRMAN WANTS INSTITUTE TO BE LEADING REFERENCE CENTRE      

KUALA LUMPUR -- Newly-appointed Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon is determined to turn it into the world's leading reference centre and road safety educational institution.

Wong, who was appointed to the position effective Feb 5 to replace Datuk Suret Singh, said this could be be achieved through determination by MIROS staff.  

“I am also thankful to the MIROS management for having faith in appointing me as the chairman and I feel fortunate to be working here,” he said at the handing over of duty ceremony today.  

MIROS, in a statement, said it hoped that Wong's credibility and leadership would drive MIROS to excellence and be the pioneer the field of road safety research and development.

-- BERNAMA

 

OMICRON WAVE: PENANG TO SET UP PRIVATE PKRC

GEORGE TOWN -- The Penang government plans to set up private COVID-19 Low-Risk Quarantine and Treatment Centres (PKRC), such as in hotels, in preparation for the Omicron wave.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the matter was discussed at a joint meeting with the State Health Department to tackle the expected rise in positive cases that will require quarantine away from home.

He also urged members of the public to get their booster jabs. 

"For children aged five years and above, register immediately through the COVID-19 National Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids),” he said in a statement today.

-- BERNAMA

 

PDRM TO BOOST COOPERATION WITH FOREIGN COUNTERPARTS ON DRUG WAR

KUALA LUMPUR -- Royal Malaysia Police will enhance its cooperation with foreign authorities by sharing its expertise in an effort to curb international drug threats and smuggling.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said that in 2020, Malaysia RM994 million in total seizures, which is a 130 per cent increase compared to last year.

“That’s why this collaboration is important, including conducting courses to further enhance the expertise of personnel and officers to tackle narcotics issues effectively. We need to work closely at the regional or global level because if we work in silo, we will not be able to overcome the drug menace,” he said.

He told reporters this after attending the closing ceremony of the Advanced Training Course for Anti-Drug Unit of ASEANAPOL Member Countries at the Russian Embassy here that was also attended by the Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Naiyl M Latypov.

-- BERNAMA 

 

 

116 COVID POSITIVE SPM CANDIDATES IN MELAKA TO SIT FOR ORAL TEST IN APRIL

MELAKA -- A total of 116 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2021 candidates here, who did not take the oral test which began yesterday after testing positive for COVID-19 and are undergoing quarantine, will be allowed to take the examination in the second session in April.

State Education and Technology Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin said the State Education Department (JPN) had sent the list of candidates undergoing quarantine and the relevant documents to the Examination Board to allow the students to take the test in the second session.

"The SPM examination started with the Malay Speaking Test that will be held until Thursday (Feb 10), followed by the Practical Science Test on Tuesday (Feb 15) and the English Speaking and Listening Tests will be from Feb 21 to Feb 24,” he told reporters after officiating the Melaka Rugby Academy (AKRAM) in Ayer Keroh here today.

Rais said 50 students are still COVID-19 positive while 206 students are still being quarantined.

-- BERNAMA