Latest news with #Exco
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
NDP 2025 Exco warns public against scammers posing as NDP representatives
'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE - The National Day Parade (NDP) 2025 executive committee (Exco) will never ask the public or organisations for cash sponsorship, donations or personal details over the phone, organisers of Singapore's birthday bash said on June 28. In an advisory on its official Facebook page NDPeeps, the NDP Exco said it is aware of scammers pretending to be representatives from NDP 2025 and calling potential victims to solicit cash sponsorships and personal information. 'Do not disclose any personal, business, or sponsorship information if you are unsure of the caller's identity or credibility,' the advisory said. If members of the public or organisations are unsure if something is a scam, they can write to ndp@ to check. Those affected should report the scam calls to the police immediately, added the NDP 2025 Exco. The NDP on Aug 9 will be held at the Padang and Marina Bay. The Straits Times has contacted the NDP 2025 Exco and the police for more information. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Negeri Sembilan records 225 COVID-19 cases in ME 24
SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan recorded 225 new COVID-19 cases in the 24th Epidemiological Week (ME 24) for the period of June 8 to 14, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun. He said the figure showed an increase of 104.5 per cent compared to the previous week of 110 cases and Seremban recorded the highest number with 200 cases in ME 24. 'However, the situation is under control with no outbreaks reported. The increase is believed to be due to social movements and activities during the recent festive holiday season,' he told reporters after chairing an Exco meeting here today. Meanwhile, he said dengue cases in the state showed an increasing trend with 84 cases recorded in ME24 compared to 64 cases in the previous week while 21 outbreaks were reported involving 16 controlled, four uncontrolled and one hotspot. Aminuddin said the public was advised to remain vigilant and practise preventive measures and to seek early treatment if they experience symptoms of dengue. In another development, he said the state government had agreed to demolish and rebuild the Seri Pilah Kariah Mosque in Kuala Pilah at a cost of RM5 million as the mosque building was no longer safe to use. 'We want to develop a better mosque that will provide more comfort, especially to the children of the parish. The mosque, which will be moved to a new site at Lots 5616 and 5618 in Pilah Tengah, is expected to be completed within two to three years,' he said.
New Straits Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang extends housing discount to all buyers after criticism
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has agreed to extend the five per cent housing discount to all buyers of completed but unsold properties, classified as overhang units. This came after the state was criticised for only offering the housing discount to the Indian Muslim community. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state executive council (Exco) meeting today unanimously agreed to expand the five per cent discount provision to all buyers for the purchase of overhang properties. "The discount is valid for a period of one year under the MADANI Ownership Campaign (MOC) and limited to participating developers registered with the Penang State Housing Board (LPNPP). "It will focus on identified unsold units, with relevant information to be obtained from the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC)," he told newsmen at a press conference here today. Chow said there are currently 2,729 overhang properties in the state for all categories of housing. The figure was as of the first quarter of this year. According to NAPIC, the overhang properties valued at RM2.04 billion. About half of the overhang properties' value comprised properties above RM1 million. Prior to this, Chow had instructed state Housing Committee chairman Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo to review the housing discount policy for Indian Muslims, with the aim of expanding it to all buyers. He said this was to ensure the housing discount policy was more inclusive and benefitted all segments of society, in line with principles of social justice.
IOL News
10-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality faces backlash over R23 million legal fees for R30 million payout
EThekwini Municipality is expected to pay R23 million extra after losing a legal battle to defend R30 million claim Image: Willem Phungula The eThekwini Municipality has defended its spending of R23 million in defending a R30 million payout. Last week, the city lost a bruising legal battle in the Constitutional Court in trying to overturn the lower courts' orders, which had dismissed its bid with costs. The latest ruling drew the ire of political parties and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who also categorised the city's costs as wasteful expenditure, which he said must be recovered from the officials responsible for them. The ruling also drew attention to the city's former deputy manager, Sibusiso Makhanya, who, through his attorneys, penned a letter to Mayor Cyril Xaba asking him to take action against City Manager Musa Mbhele, whom he said was liable for this wasteful expenditure. Makhanya gave the mayor five days to take action or face potential legal consequences. He argued that the city charged him for causing it to incur costs similarly; therefore, to be consistent, the city must also charge Mbhele. The company, Daily Double Trading, has already calculated its total costs to R53 million and demanded that the city pay within five days. In the city's response to Makhanya, it defended the legal costs, saying the monies expended in defending the ratepayers' money did not constitute wasteful expenditure. 'There has never been an instance where the legal costs, for work done by the legal representatives, constituted wasteful expenditure, irrespective of the court outcome,' read the letter. The city further stated that the Executive Committee (Exco) fully supported the decision to approach the Constitutional Court and the Exco's resolution was reported to the council meeting of March 31, which also supported it; therefore, there was no need to refer the matter to the Financial Misconduct Disciplinary Board which Makhanya called for. Makhanya dismissed the city's assertion that the cost does not constitute wasteful expenditure, saying in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act, fruitless expenditure is defined as an expenditure that was made in vain and would have been avoided had reasonable care been exercised. He said if the mayor does act, he would go to court as he indicated in the letter. The municipality has been in a legal battle since 2018 with the electrical company, Daily Double Trading, known as Pholobas. The company claimed it was legally blacklisted by the city and had done work for the city to the value of over R40 million. After the municipality objected, the business was granted a preservation order. The sheriff attached the city's assets, but the parties reached an out-of-court settlement in which the city, through its attorney, allegedly promised to pay the company R30 million, which the company accepted, but the city later disputed. The matter went to court again in 2021, however, the city did not oppose it, and the court ordered the city to pay R30 million with 10% interest from 2018. The municipality filed a leave to appeal, which was dismissed, and went straight to the Supreme Court of Appeal, which also dismissed the matter. [email protected]
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Nsikazi residents demand service delivery from Mpumalanga premier
The Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, was challenged to prioritise service delivery to communities of the City of Mbombela during his Executive Council (Exco) Outreach Programme (imbizo) last Friday. The KaBokweni Stadium was filled with frustrated residents of the Nsikazi region, most of whom said they feel neglected and failed by the local, and especially the provincial government. This while Ndlovu's office is situated less than 30km away from there. They had the chance to speak to Ndlovu directly. While he and members of his Exco noted the concerns raised, they could not account for some of the challenges. The plague of criminal activity, particularly sexual violence at schools and hijackings in the region, was a cause for concern. The residents said they are left to fend for themselves, as most police stations don't have enough vehicles to respond to crime scenes. This has resulted in the public losing faith in the police and the justice system in general. Ndlovu said the fight against crime requires communities to co-operate with the police and that the provincial government would support the crime-prevention systems put in place. The people also voiced complaints on the overcrowded primary schools in the area, such as Vutselani, Malekutu and Tsembaletfu. Thami Shabangu from Malekutu Trust said the schools are dilapidated and don't have enough classrooms to accommodate the number of pupils enrolled. ALSO READ: Hazyview Twin College teachers claim unfair dismissal by school's owner We asked the premier and his council to demolish and rebuild these schools, so that teachers and pupils have a conducive learning environment. We hope they heard our concerns and react quickly,' he said. In his list of concerns, Shabangu also highlighted the safety of public transport commuters, suggesting that load reduction should be scheduled during the day rather than in the evening when criminal activities are more likely to take place. The City of Mbombela has put in place a compulsory load reduction schedule of two hours daily – either from 05:00 to 07:00 or 19:00 to 21:00 – for all areas of Nsikazi. The dilapidated Mjejane Road between Malekutu and Mdlangoma was a recurring topic, brought up by many residents at the gathering. The MEC for public works, roads and transport, Thulasizwe Thomo, promised residents that it would be attended to, along with other public infrastructure issues such as the neglected Elijah Mango College of Higher Education. The deputy chairperson of the Ehlanzeni community policing forum (CPF), Jacob Sibhoza, brought up the issue of financial support for CPFs. He highlighted security and safety concerns caused by neglected and overgrown bushes at various hospitals, referring to the recent case of a missing patient whose body was found in the bushes near Tonga Hospital. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga High Court orders DoE to pay costs after failed postponement hearing Other issues that were raised were unemployment, alleged incompetence of ward councillors, and a lack of internet access at public facilities. Residents like Florence Mathebula from Bhuga attended the imbizo to plead with Ndlovu to build her a house, as she struggles to make ends meet living with a disability. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
