Cambodia News Gazette

KOTA KINABALU, The digital registration programme implemented since September 2022 has recorded data from 39,276 foreigners in Sabah, the State Legislative Assembly was told today.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said of the total, 21,994 were foreign workers while 17,282 were their dependents.

He said the programme’s initial phase, managed by Smart Sabah Corporation Sdn Bhd, focused on implementing digital registration in the agriculture and construction sectors.

‘The initial phase is concentrated on these two sectors because they have the highest number of foreigners and also a high demand for labour in the 3D category, which stands for Dirty, Difficult and Dangerous. This programme ensures that foreign workers have valid documents to work in Sabah.

‘The data collection of these foreigners is based on a data matrix guided by the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963,’ he said in response to a question from Datuk Ewon Benedick (PH-Kadamaian) rega
rding the current status of the digital registration programme.

Nizam said the programme collected foreigners’ biometric data and personal information using the Sabah Workers Integrated Management System (SWIMS).

Five plantation companies — Kumpulan Sawit Kinabalu, Sabah Softwood Berhad, Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd, FGV Plantations and Cepat Wawasan Group Berhad — have been involved in the exercise so far.

‘The state government will not compromise on security issues involving illegal immigrants in Sabah and the Immigration Department and other enforcement agencies will continuously conduct operations to detain and deport these individuals,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister III cum Sabah Works Minister Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said that traffic volume is among the key indicators in determining the alignment of Phase 1 of the Pan Borneo Highway in Sabah, currently being implemented.

‘We indeed aim to include all federal roads in Sabah in this project, but for Phase 1, we are looking at traffic volume thr
ough federal roads first. We will strive for a broader network, especially in the interior areas, in Phase 2 and 3,’ he said.

He said this in response to a supplementary question from Datuk Rubin Balang (GRS-Kemabong) regarding the government’s plans to extend the project to the interior areas of Sabah, especially the Kimanis-Keningau-Nawawan-Kalabakan-Tawau stretch.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) draft on the allocation for the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) that is being prepared will focus on the efforts to develop and revive the country’s economy for the well-being of the people.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the draft would be provided to the opposition so they could determine if there is a need for further discussion, adding that the draft would be completed as soon as possible.

He told reporters this during an Aidilfitri open house that he hosted at Kompleks Sri Satria today, which was also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Refusing to comment further on the details of the draft, Fadillah said it would be shared once the framework is established and finalised.

Asked if the MoU issue would be raised in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, Fadillah said the opposition would continue to raise matters despite the government’s efforts.

“The important thing is our sincerity in considering what has bee
n agreed on in principle. So now, we are putting together the MoU so that there will be a common agenda in developing the country, reviving the economy, and most importantly, ensuring the well-being of people is safeguarded in terms of stability and security,” he said.

Asked to comment on the statement by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that there is no need for an MoU if the Unity Government is sincere in allocating funds to the opposition MPs, Fadillah said the MoU approach will be implemented.

“There was also an agreement in the past, and when there’s an agreement, there’s allocation. We are implementing the MoU, even though it’s unnecessary because the government already has two-thirds,” he said.

On April 18, the Unity Government Secretariat Supreme Leadership Council decided in principle to consider allocating funds to opposition MPs.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is tracking down individuals involved in the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to edit photographs to humiliate social media users, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi said the move is to enable strict action to be taken and ensure the safety of online users, especially children.

‘MCMC is tracking down the individuals, and to MCMC’s knowledge, some of them were involved in prostitution activities before and punished but were found to be involved in vice again but in a different form and using other services.

‘This is one of the reasons why we are deeply concerned and are taking several strict measures regarding online safety, among others, we insist that children, aged 13 and below, are banned from using any social media application,’ he told reporters after attending his ministry’s monthly assembly here today.

Previously, it went viral on the X, about the humiliating photo editing activities which receiv
ed negative reactions from netizens and requested that the government ban the use of that technology in this country.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim prays for Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to be granted a swift recovery.

Abdullah, 85, who served as the fifth prime minister from 2003 until 2009, was admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) at 3 pm yesterday.

‘May Tun Abdullah be granted a swift recovery, bestowed with strength and may all his affairs be eased. Insya-Allah,’ he said in a post on his Facebook today.

The former prime minister’s secretariat office said Abdullah was diagnosed with small spontaneous pneumothorax and was advised to rest under the monitoring of specialists.

Meanwhile, former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah’s son-in-law, confirmed that Abdullah is in stable condition at IJN’s Coronary Care Unit.

On behalf of the family, Khairy expressed gratitude for the prayers and words of encouragement for Abdullah, adding that his father-in-law needs adequate rest and will not receive visitors for now.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia and Japan are committed to enhancing their strategic collaboration in technology and digitalisation within the construction sector, road infrastructure and slope management.

Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said both nations are also looking to enhance information sharing on highway and slope management and maintenance, as well as the exchange of expertise and technical resources.

He said the commitment was mutually expressed during his meeting with Japan’s Deputy Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Kokuba Konosuke in Tokyo on Wednesday.

‘This meeting reflects the continuation of the good ties between Japan and Malaysia, established 65 years ago,’ said Nanta in a statement today.

He said that the commitment to enhance cooperation between Malaysia and Japan is in line with the National Construction Policy 2030 theme, namely Digitalising the Construction Sector.

‘I am confident that Malaysia can benefit from Japan’s technological expertise in the
construction and infrastructure sectors.

‘The discussions also focused on the potential cooperation that Malaysia and Japan can explore in the construction sector,’ said Nanta.

He also said that the ministry had extended an invitation to Japan to participate in two programmes organised by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), scheduled for this year.

Nanta said the two programmes were the Highway Concession Conference slated for Sept 24 to 25 and International Construction Week in November.

‘I am hopeful that this bilateral meeting will result in positive outcomes, leading to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the second quarter of 2024, and during the Ministry of Works’ programme at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka,’ he said.

According to Nanta, the MoU could create opportunities for Malaysian construction industry players to explore the Japanese market in line with the implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement fo
r Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency