Sabo dam in Baling to finish early, boosting flood safety
BALING: The RM22.80 million Sabo Dam in Sungai Kupang is set for early completion, offering enhanced flood protection for Baling's 5,000 residents. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed the project is now 62% complete, surpassing the initial 20% target.
Contractors have assured the dam will be ready two months ahead of schedule by late next year. 'It's rare for such projects to progress this swiftly,' Saifuddin said during a site visit as Kedah state development action council joint chairman.
He also shared updates on Baling's flood mitigation plan. Phase 1, costing RM9.6 million, is 12% complete and set for November 2025, while Phase 2 (RM118 million) is at 3.68% progress, with a 2029 deadline. 'Baling recorded 17 floods in 2024 alone, up from 10 in 2023,' he noted, citing Irrigation and Drainage Department data.
Additionally, Saifuddin inspected 17 replacement homes for Kampung Iboi's 2022 debris flow victims. The RM3 million project is 95% done, with utility works pending before handover by mid-July.
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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Sabo dam in Baling to finish early, boosting flood safety
BALING: The RM22.80 million Sabo Dam in Sungai Kupang is set for early completion, offering enhanced flood protection for Baling's 5,000 residents. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed the project is now 62% complete, surpassing the initial 20% target. Contractors have assured the dam will be ready two months ahead of schedule by late next year. 'It's rare for such projects to progress this swiftly,' Saifuddin said during a site visit as Kedah state development action council joint chairman. He also shared updates on Baling's flood mitigation plan. Phase 1, costing RM9.6 million, is 12% complete and set for November 2025, while Phase 2 (RM118 million) is at 3.68% progress, with a 2029 deadline. 'Baling recorded 17 floods in 2024 alone, up from 10 in 2023,' he noted, citing Irrigation and Drainage Department data. Additionally, Saifuddin inspected 17 replacement homes for Kampung Iboi's 2022 debris flow victims. The RM3 million project is 95% done, with utility works pending before handover by mid-July.
Borneo Post
17 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak govt's RM1 mln contribution completes funding for St Peter's Church
Uggah (second left) presents the RM1 million cheque to Poh (centre) as additional aid for the construction of St Peter's Church, Padungan. Also seen are (from left) Unifor director Datuk Georgina Apphia Ngau, St Peter's Church Rector Rev Vincent Chin, and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (June 28): The Sarawak government has contributed an additional RM1 million to the building fund of St Peter's Church, Padungan, marking the final financial boost needed to complete the RM38 million construction of the new church. The cheque was handed over during the church's official opening ceremony today, in a gesture of continued support for religious harmony and development in the state. 'On behalf of the Sarawak government, we will be handing over a RM1 million cheque to the church in further aid to the building fund,' said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg in a text of speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. Abang Johari congratulated the Catholic community on the successful completion of the iconic house of worship. 'This is not just a place for prayer and reflection, it is a symbol of vision, resilience, and deep-rooted faith. 'Located in the very centre of Kuching, the presence of St. Peter's Church, among other religious houses in close proximity, is a powerful testament to the religious harmony and unity that Sarawak is so proud to uphold,' he said. The church's completion was made possible through a combination of donations, government funding, and community support, with much of the fundraising effort taking place amid the challenges of the pandemic. Poh speaks to reporters when met at the event. – Photo by Roystein Emmor Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Dr Simon Poh said the total cost of the building was RM38 million. 'Yes, so from the overall initial planning it was RM38 million and then you know the pandemic knocked out all the donors and pledgers so we had to start from zero again,' he said. Poh acknowledged the critical role of the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor), which had earlier contributed RM2 million through two separate cheques presented in the past two years. 'And then today is the final cheque,' he said. According to him, the RM1 million presented today brought the total contribution from the Sarawak government through Unifor to RM3 million. 'With this last RM1 million, today we received a total of RM3 million from the Sarawak government through Unifor. We have enough just to cover everything and pay everything so tomorrow we will consecrate the whole church together,' he said. While some minor funding is still needed for furnishings and interior work, Poh said the contract sum for construction is now fully covered. 'The smaller things like furnishing and interior work still need to be done, but the building, the contract sum, everything is cleared. With the last RM1 million coming in, we can cover everything,' he added. The Archbishop noted that support had come not just from Catholics but from many other communities and faiths in Sarawak. 'This church stands more than just the church for the Catholic because people from all walks of life are looking and saying wow this is in Kuching. It's amazing that we don't need to go to Europe to see a very nice church here,' he said. Poh said the church had become a new landmark symbolising unity and mutual respect among Sarawakians. 'This became a landmark for a sign of our desire for harmony, contributing to society and building a better Sarawak for peace, for harmony, as a model for other parts of Malaysia and for the world,' he added. Built entirely using local materials and expertise, the church also showcases Sarawak's growing capabilities in architecture and construction, said Poh. 'This is the beginning of something that's possible. So Anak Sarawak out there, those graduating in a few years, by 2030, they can come back. We believe Sarawak will provide employment and continue contributing to peace, harmony, and progress.' The consecration of the new St Peter's Church is scheduled to take place tomorrow. building fund douglas uggah embas sarawak government St Peter's Church
The Sun
19 hours ago
- The Sun
ACCCIM urges expanded SST delay to Jan 2026, proposes 4 pct rate until 2027
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is urged to postpone the implementation of the expanded sales and service tax (SST) to January 2026 from July 1, 2025, to allow more lead time for preparation, as several areas still require clarification. While 'cautiously welcoming' the government's announcement on the review of the expanded SST on Thursday, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) also called on the government to reduce the expanded SST to a lower rate of four per cent in the first two years (2026–2027) to ease the tax burden on businesses and consumers. The expanded SST applies to additional services (wellness centres, financial, and healthcare) and three new services (rental or leasing, construction works, and education), it said in a statement today. 'Adequate preparation is crucial to ensure better compliance and smooth implementation,' it said, citing concerns over multiple cost increases coinciding with a challenging global and domestic economic environment, which is exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding trade tariff policies and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. 'The effects of rising costs, which have been felt in 2025, are expected to persist or influence the business and economic landscape in 2026,' it added. Meanwhile, ACCCIM urged the government to raise the registration threshold for service tax on leasing or rental, as well as construction services, to RM3 million from RM1 million. It also called on the government to raise the tax exemption threshold for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) tenants to RM2 million in annual sales, from RM1 million announced on Thursday. 'We also propose a longer exemption period of 36 months for non-reviewable and reviewable contracts, to cover all project types due to the nature of the projects and their cycles,' it said. ACCCIM said it will continue to engage with its members and industry stakeholders to provide constructive feedback and solutions to the government to soften the impact of the SST on businesses and households.
