Latest news with #EPU
Borneo Post
12 hours ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Julaihi: Sarawak to press on with master plan for 100 pct water coverage by 2030
Julaihi shows water processed by the Daro Acute System Project. Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad is at second right. DARO (July 30): Sarawak will press on with its ambitious Water Supply Master Plan to ensure 100 per cent water coverage across the state by 2030, said Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi today. The Minister for Utility and Telecommunication said the master plan, completed in 2021 and coordinated by the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU), lays the foundation for a long-term solution to water supply challenges, particularly in rural areas. 'The Water Supply Master Plan outlines Sarawak's water development up to 2070, with three strategic thrusts – water demand management, treatment and distribution, and the quality and adequacy of both raw and treated water,' he said at the launch of the Daro Acute System project in Mukah. The plan includes the creation of an integrated water grid system linking all major treatment plants across Sarawak, while off-grid solutions such as the Sarawak Alternative Water Supply System (Sawas) will serve remote communities. Julaihi said the government has allocated RM4.6 billion under Alternative Funding and the 12th Malaysia Plan to implement 406 water projects statewide. As of now, 292 projects have been completed, 77 are in pre-contract stages, and the remainder are in various phases of implementation. He highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) through an RM1.1 billion pipe replacement programme covering 2,742km across Sarawak. In Mukah, RM10.4 million has been approved for 11 pipe replacement projects spanning 29.9km from 2024 to 2025, he said. 'The Premier of Sarawak has shown strong commitment to improving water supply, especially for rural areas,' Julaihi stressed, adding that he personally monitors project progress on the ground to ensure timely completion. The Daro Acute System project serves as a short-term solution to enhance local water supply until the full grid system is operational. Julaihi also urged the public to report vandalism of utility assets, warning that such acts cause not only financial losses but also disrupt the daily lives of residents. 'With continuous efforts and the support of all stakeholders, we can realize Sarawak's vision of a modern, efficient, and sustainable water supply system,' he said. Julaihi Narawi lead Sarawak Water Supply Master Plan
The Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Melaka sets RM1,279 PGK threshold for JKM aid applications
MELAKA: A Poverty Line Income (PGK) threshold of RM1,279 has been set as a key criterion for individuals applying for Social Welfare Department (JKM) assistance in Melaka. State Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Nordin confirmed the figure during the State Legislative Assembly session. The rate, determined by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) under the Ministry of Economy, is based on the Household Income, Expenditure and Basic Amenities Survey conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). 'The PGK for Melaka is set at RM1,279, while the federal rate is RM1,198 for the entire household, (based on data) released by the EPU in 2022,' Kalsom said in response to a query from Datuk Zaidi Attan (BN–Serkam). Four assistance schemes are available under the PGK framework: Child Assistance, Senior Citizen Assistance, General State Assistance, and Disabled Persons Assistance. Applicants exceeding the PGK threshold may still qualify for other schemes, including the Disabled Workers Allowance (income limit RM1,700), Chronic Patient and Disabled Persons Care Assistance (RM5,000 and below), Bantuan Anak Pelihara, and the Apprentice Training Allowance—both without income restrictions. Additional subsidies include the Autistic Children's Learning Fee Subsidy (per capita income RM4,000 and below) and Childcare Fee Subsidy (per capita income RM800 and below). As of June 2025, JKM has disbursed RM79.8 million to 29,247 recipients across various aid programmes. – Bernama
Metro
13-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
Until I had one, I was ignorant about the reality of miscarriages
'It's not good news'. That was the text I sent to my mum, my in-laws and my boss as I left an early ultrasound clinic last July. As my husband and I cycled home through eyes filled with tears, I received replies from all of them. My mum was on her way over, my in-laws ready to jump in the car to be with us, my boss's message full of sorrowful words and pleas not to think about work for one second. She would handle everything – she would speak to HR; to my team; and manage my workload. I should take as long as I needed and focus on myself, my husband and my needs over the next couple of weeks. I'm fortunate that during that time – the worst in my life – I had one less thing to worry about. This is not the case for so many people. In fact, unless your baby loss happens after 24 weeks – when it is considered a stillbirth, rather than a miscarriage – parents-to-be are not eligible for any statutory leave. Now, the government is set to make amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, which would see them get 'at least' a week – although specifics have not been laid out. The most common miscarriage symptom is bleeding. However, light spotting can also be normal in the first trimester, which can make any sign of blood very scary for pregnant women. It is recommended that anyone experiencing vaginal bleeding should contact their maternity team to be checked over. Other symptoms include: Cramping and pain in your lower tummy No longer experiencing pregnancy symptoms A discharge of fluid or tissue Find out more here (Those who have a stillbirth, or lose a child under 18, are currently entitled to two weeks off, which in my opinion is nowhere near enough). In total, I took just over a fortnight off after my miscarriage – but could have taken longer if I wanted. I had gone for a private early reassurance scan at seven weeks, before I was supposed to fly abroad for a friend's wedding. It was my first pregnancy and I just wanted to know everything was looking OK. But like up to 20% of women, I was about to have a miscarriage before 12 weeks. I was told by a kind doctor that there was no heartbeat, that they would normally expect to see one by this point, and that the chances of one developing after this point were slim to none. I expected the miscarriage would follow shortly after. I was wrong. Unless it happened naturally before then, the next step would be to wait a week and go to the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU). It was important to wait, she said, in case there was any change. So we went home and waited. I sobbed. I screamed. I made guttural sounds I didn't know I was capable of making. And I frantically Googled 'How likely is it that a seven week foetus will develop a heartbeat?. I held on to a small glimmer of hope – even if my husband gently repeated the kind doctor's words that in 18 years of doing her job she had never seen it happen. The lowest I felt day was on day seven. The EPU is basically A&E. You can get appointments there but generally that's for follow up. So you have to wait. We arrived for the 9am opening and sat down among hordes of anxious couples looking for reassurance that their babies were OK. Over the course of the day, the room emptied out, sometimes others would come in, and yet we stayed. We spent seven hours waiting to be seen in a windowless room, not daring to move or dart out to get food unless our names were called. It was torture. When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating In the end, there was still no heartbeat. We were told by an empathetic doctor that this was likely a chromosomal issue – as is the case in most early miscarriages – and heartbreakingly, I'd have to wait another week as they couldn't accept my private scan as proof. However, if the miscarriage hadn't started naturally within that time, they would book me in for a medical procedure to get it underway. With this news I could start to mourn my longed-for baby; the grief overwhelming. But I also felt unable to leave the house. What if the miscarriage started when I decided to go out? I couldn't face the thought of it. The doctors warned me about the pain. They warned me that unless I bled through two sanitary pads per hour for two or more hours, or had a fever, it was 'normal' and I could handle it at home. My mind boggled. When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating. Out at dinner, I couldn't eat. Couldn't think of anything else except the stabbing in my abdomen. It sounds like something from a Greek tragedy, but it was during this moment that the woman on the table behind us announced her pregnancy to friends. She talked about not feeling particularly excited. I could write countless words about all the horrendous parts of miscarriage. The fact that you still have pregnancy symptoms; the bleeding that goes on and on and on; the limbo of waiting to lose your baby and having to see it in the loo. When I returned to work, I was still bleeding. I was still crying in the bathroom most days. It took me a long time to feel like myself again. I can't think too hard about that time last year without getting emotional. So I hope with every bone in my body that the government not only makes statutory bereavement leave longer than a week for those who have suffered miscarriages, but that they also increase time off for parents who are grieving post-24 week losses and children. Because forcing people in the throes of grief to work – or take sick leave – is inexplicable to me. More Trending Yes, the loss is different to losing an adult child. It's different to a stillbirth. But it is a bereavement. It's not sickness. As I heard MP Sarah Owen say on the radio this morning, no one says 'get better soon' during a miscarriage, but they do say 'sorry for your loss'. View More » And it's time employers acknowledge that loss. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: My holiday breakfast buffet hack is controversial but it's a money saver MORE: Alcohol has made my soulmate a monster – I sleep with defence spray MORE: I got a massive tattoo of this UK city to prove my love Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Putra Heights gas pipeline blast: Home reconstruction, repair works progressing ahead of schedule, says Selangor MB
SHAH ALAM, July 8 — Reconstruction and repair works on homes damaged in the Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion in Subang Jaya have begun and are progressing ahead of schedule, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said today. He said the positive development has seen 22 to 24 per cent of the rebuilding and repair work completed so far, involving homes in Taman Putra Harmoni and Kampung Kuala Sungai Baharu, according to a report by Bernama today. 'As of now, based on assessments by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), three homes in Taman Putra Harmoni will be rebuilt, while 46 units will undergo repairs. The remaining 46 are in the final phase of structural and crack-point testing. 'In Kampung Kuala Sungai Baharu, 17 homes were affected — 11 will be rebuilt, and six repaired,' he said during a briefing on the Putra Heights incident at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly today. Regarding compensation claims for house repairs, Amirudin said residents of Taman Putra Harmoni have filed claims amounting to RM458,440.50, while residents of Kampung Kuala Sungai Baharu have submitted claims totalling RM884,934 to date. He added that all affected residents have until October 27 to submit their claim documents to the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), which is facilitating the process. 'Following the assessment, the state government will propose to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to raise the repair cost ceiling from RM30,000 to RM60,000, taking into account the cost of roof tiling and the replacement of fittings such as water tanks,' he said.
Metro
07-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
I had a miscarriage - no one should be forced to work through it
'It's not good news'. That was the text I sent to my mum, my in-laws and my boss as I left an early ultrasound clinic last July. As my husband and I cycled home through eyes filled with tears, I received replies from all of them. My mum was on her way over, my in-laws ready to jump in the car to be with us, my boss's message full of sorrowful words and pleas not to think about work for one second. She would handle everything – she would speak to HR; to my team; and manage my workload. I should take as long as I needed and focus on myself, my husband and my needs over the next couple of weeks. I'm fortunate that during that time – the worst in my life – I had one less thing to worry about. This is not the case for so many people. In fact, unless your baby loss happens after 24 weeks – when it is considered a stillbirth, rather than a miscarriage – parents-to-be are not eligible for any statutory leave. Now, the government is set to make amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, which would see them get 'at least' a week – although specifics have not been laid out. The most common miscarriage symptom is bleeding. However, light spotting can also be normal in the first trimester, which can make any sign of blood very scary for pregnant women. It is recommended that anyone experiencing vaginal bleeding should contact their maternity team to be checked over. Other symptoms include: Cramping and pain in your lower tummy No longer experiencing pregnancy symptoms A discharge of fluid or tissue Find out more here (Those who have a stillbirth, or lose a child under 18, are currently entitled to two weeks off, which in my opinion is nowhere near enough). In total, I took just over a fortnight off after my miscarriage – but could have taken longer if I wanted. I had gone for a private early reassurance scan at seven weeks, before I was supposed to fly abroad for a friend's wedding. It was my first pregnancy and I just wanted to know everything was looking OK. But like up to 20% of women, I was about to have a miscarriage before 12 weeks. I was told by a kind doctor that there was no heartbeat, that they would normally expect to see one by this point, and that the chances of one developing after this point were slim to none. I expected the miscarriage would follow shortly after. I was wrong. Unless it happened naturally before then, the next step would be to wait a week and go to the Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU). It was important to wait, she said, in case there was any change. So we went home and waited. I sobbed. I screamed. I made guttural sounds I didn't know I was capable of making. And I frantically Googled 'How likely is it that a seven week foetus will develop a heartbeat?. I held on to a small glimmer of hope – even if my husband gently repeated the kind doctor's words that in 18 years of doing her job she had never seen it happen. The lowest I felt day was on day seven. The EPU is basically A&E. You can get appointments there but generally that's for follow up. So you have to wait. We arrived for the 9am opening and sat down among hordes of anxious couples looking for reassurance that their babies were OK. Over the course of the day, the room emptied out, sometimes others would come in, and yet we stayed. We spent seven hours waiting to be seen in a windowless room, not daring to move or dart out to get food unless our names were called. It was torture. When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating In the end, there was still no heartbeat. We were told by an empathetic doctor that this was likely a chromosomal issue – as is the case in most early miscarriages – and heartbreakingly, I'd have to wait another week as they couldn't accept my private scan as proof. However, if the miscarriage hadn't started naturally within that time, they would book me in for a medical procedure to get it underway. With this news I could start to mourn my longed-for baby; the grief overwhelming. But I also felt unable to leave the house. What if the miscarriage started when I decided to go out? I couldn't face the thought of it. The doctors warned me about the pain. They warned me that unless I bled through two sanitary pads per hour for two or more hours, or had a fever, it was 'normal' and I could handle it at home. My mind boggled. When it did start – on my wedding anniversary no less – the pain was excruciating. Out at dinner, I couldn't eat. Couldn't think of anything else except the stabbing in my abdomen. It sounds like something from a Greek tragedy, but it was during this moment that the woman on the table behind us announced her pregnancy to friends. She talked about not feeling particularly excited. I could write countless words about all the horrendous parts of miscarriage. The fact that you still have pregnancy symptoms; the bleeding that goes on and on and on; the limbo of waiting to lose your baby and having to see it in the loo. When I returned to work, I was still bleeding. I was still crying in the bathroom most days. It took me a long time to feel like myself again. I can't think too hard about that time last year without getting emotional. So I hope with every bone in my body that the government not only makes statutory bereavement leave longer than a week for those who have suffered miscarriages, but that they also increase time off for parents who are grieving post-24 week losses and children. Because forcing people in the throes of grief to work – or take sick leave – is inexplicable to me. More Trending Yes, the loss is different to losing an adult child. It's different to a stillbirth. But it is a bereavement. It's not sickness. As I heard MP Sarah Owen say on the radio this morning, no one says 'get better soon' during a miscarriage, but they do say 'sorry for your loss'. View More » And it's time employers acknowledge that loss. Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I may have incurable cancer but I'm happier than ever MORE: My family day out was ruined by hundreds of swearing hikers MORE: I've worked hard to lose weight only to be met with Ozempic accusations Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
