Fahmi inspects Malaysia Day 2025 venue in Butterworth
BUTTERWORTH: Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil conducted a site visit to the PICCA@Arena Butterworth Convention Centre here, the venue for the 2025 Malaysia Day celebration on Monday (June 30).
The visit was aimed at observing early preparations to ensure the smooth organisation of the national-level event, scheduled to take place on Sept 16.
The celebration will be officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and attended by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Ramli Ngah Talib, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Fahmi also held a meeting with staff from the Penang state offices of the Communications Ministry and its agencies at the convention centre.
Also accompanying him were Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, Penang state secretary Datuk Zulkifli Long, Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) Chief Executive Officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and directors, heads and officers of departments and agencies under the Communications Ministry and the Penang government.
Fahmi later carried out a field inspection of telecommunications coverage quality, using the MCMC Nexus app while travelling by bus from the convention centre to the National Information Dissemination Centres (NADI) in Kubang Semang in Bukit Mertajam.- Bernama
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
43 minutes ago
- The Star
A step closer to enhanced elders' rights
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has completed the draft for the Senior Citizens Bill, which aims to protect the rights and well-being of the elderly, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri. The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said it is expected to be tabled in Parliament next year. Nancy said her ministry plans to submit the draft to the Attorney-General's Chambers by the end of this year. At the moment, she said, the ministry is engaging in further consultations with industry players and state governments, including those in Sabah and Sarawak. 'What we are doing now is that we need to go back to the industry players, the stakeholders, to talk to them again. And we also have to refer to every state. 'So this is an ongoing thing because the Bill is not just for us in the peninsula. It's also for various states, especially those in the Borneo side,' she told a press conference after launching the Asean + Republic of Korea Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons here yesterday, Bernama reported. Also present were Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Asean, Lee Jang-keun.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Gas tank ruling not for hawkers
Revised roll-out: Armizan (centre) chairing a meeting with the Sabah Food Traders Association at the Sabah International Convention Centre. — Bernama KOTA KINABALU: Small traders selling food and beverages need not worry – they can continue to use subsidised LPG cylinders – as long as they offer 'rakyat prices'. They will be exempted for the requirement to use commercial cylinders, which cost almost three times as much, under amendments to the Supply Control Regulations (Amendment) 2021 (PPKB (Amendment) 2021). In May, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry launched Ops Gasak, which required businesses, including eateries and hawker stalls, to use the more expensive, purple-coloured 14kg commercial LPG cylinders. Those using more than 42kg of LPG at any time needed a special permit. However, minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali told Bernama yesterday that food and beverage vendors who offer services at reasonable prices will continue to be guaranteed access to LPG subsidies. 'Unlike the 2021 ruling which only allowed the use of subsidised LPG cylinders not exceeding 42kg at any given time, the amendment will take into account the needs of micro and small traders. 'We will also look at control mechanisms in the context of ensuring that there are no leakages in this subsidy,' he told a press conference here yesterday. Earlier, Armizan attended the PPKB (Amendment) 2021 engagement session involving food and beverage traders' associations in Sabah to gather their views and feedback. Armizan said there was a need to ensure that no one took advantage of public subsidies. He revealed cases of large-scale purchases of subsidised LPG gas, with some being used at business premises while the rest were resold to parties involved in misappropriation. 'Therefore, we need to formulate control mechanisms,' he said. The ministry, he added, has also established a technical committee to review appropriate 'rakyat prices' for consumers, taking into account basic cost of living data to be released by the Statistics Department. Meanwhile, Armizan said that his ministry had summoned ice manufacturers and frozen food producers in Peninsular Malaysia to explain the basis for their recent price changes, effective tomorrow. The price hike was reported on social media recently. 'What is the basis, whether it is due to increased operating cost, raw material cost, or due to SST (Sale and Service Tax)? 'If it is due to SST, we will ask them to provide the basis and apply the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act,' Armizan added.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
‘Factual criticism on tax welcome'
PUTRAJAYA: In the name of transparency, the government is ready to accept criticisms of the taxation system, but concerns must be based on facts, says the Prime Minister. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said criticisms should be conveyed through the proper channels and not by slander or verbal abuse. 'I noticed some university students complaining about the electricity bill adjustment. 'Electricity rates have not gone up, so is it true they are affected? 'If it is indeed true, then we need to fix it because public universities are exempted,' he said at the Prime Minister's Department's monthly assembly, Bernama reported. 'Such matters, when spread in the name of freedom, can become avenues for slander and verbal abuse. 'Please provide facts. I have no issue with people complaining or offering criticism,' he said. The Prime Minister explained that the adjustment of electricity tariffs and the expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) are to ensure that those with higher financial means contribute a fairer share, while protecting segments of the population from undue financial pressure. 'If possible, we would rather not burden the people with taxes. 'But if there are one or two cases where people are affected, we can make improvements. 'However, to outright oppose the electricity (tariff) adjustment, I think that's not right,' he said. On June 9, the government announced a targeted review of the Sales Tax rate and the expansion of the Service Tax scope, which will take effect today. The Energy Commission had announced that more than 23.6 million domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia will benefit from a fairer and more progressive electricity tariff structure that will be in effect from today to Dec 31, 2027. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) has successfully recorded RM6.4bil in realised investments in the first six months of this year. The ECERDC has also successfully created more than 2,800 jobs to date, he added. 'The amount of committed investments has reached RM10.4bil, surpassing the RM10bil target set for 2025,' he said in a post on his official Facebook page. Earlier, Anwar attended a meeting with the ECERDC to review the latest progress on key performance indicators for the economic corridor, and to discuss the development framework for the East Coast Economic Region (ECER). 'I emphasised the importance of prioritising the country's long-term interests in attracting investors, including ensuring technology and skills transfer elements in every approved investment. 'The ECERDC needs to maintain this momentum through an efficient and proactive facilitation process which will strengthen the region as a competitive investment destination both nationally and internationally,' he added. Meanwhile, the ECERDC said the manufacturing sector accounted for 59% of the RM6.4bil realised investments, with Pahang leading the list with RM4bil, followed by Terengganu (RM1.3bil) and Kelantan (RM1.1bil). Johor reported investments amounting to RM13.3mil in the agriculture sector, specifically from the establishment of a biocompost facility in Mersing.
