Special daily 'RISK ALLOWANCE' for workers forced to work during MCO in private sector? 10 out of 12 new clusters are Workplace Clusters?

When businesses are allowed to operate during this high-risk Covid-19 pandemic, workers have no choice but to return to work to avoid termination or loss of jobs.

Should these workers who face extraordinary risk not only to themselves, but also their family members be entitled to an ADDITIONAL DAILY ALLOWANCE for having to take higher risks working during a strict Movement Control Order(MCO) when so many others can stay home and practice SOPs to keep them safe from Covid-19? 

Yes, businesses that operate make monies ...profits, and guess what most of these businesses shareholders/owners are safe at home safe from Covid-19? Workers are expected to face higher risks - so what about special 'risk allowances'.

Malaysian government has been CRITICIZED for keeping 'unnecessary' workplaces open even when we are facing increasing Covid-19 infections - it is now over 5,000?

When the number of NEW cases increases, it becomes even more difficult for contact tracing - and delay in detecting and isolating the infected only risk so many more being infected.

Worker lives do not seem to matter that much in Malaysia - as Malaysia continues to keep open non essential business operations all in the name of economy.

Now, logging is also being allowed - the announcement comes when Malaysia hits a record high of 5,728 new cases...

To end COVID, stringent lock-down is needed - which means all sectors/businesses must not be allowed to operate for 2 weeks, better still 4 weeks. Thereafter, no operation is RED or orange areas.

Essential - what should it cover? 

FOOD - food production/distribution/sale/delivery for Malaysian consumption

MEDICINE (including masks/gloves) - production/distribution/sale for Malaysian consumption

Banks/ATMs -

Petrol Stations/Motor Vehicle repair outlets

Maintenance and repair of basic utilities - electricity, water, sewage, waste disposal, telecommunication.

EVERYTHING else should be shut down....What do you think?

12 new Covid-19 clusters, 10 involving workplaces

FMT Reporters

-

January 29, 2021 6:54 PM

Two community clusters were detected in Sabah and Sarawak.

PETALING JAYA: The health ministry has detected 12 new Covid-19 clusters in the past 24 hours, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

In a statement, he said 10 of them involved workplaces while the remaining were community clusters.

Five workplace clusters were detected in Johor, two each in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, and one in Sabah.

The other two community clusters were in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Persiaran Subang cluster is a workplace cluster in Klang and Petaling in Selangor with the first cases testing positive on Jan 27 in a targeted screening at a factory in Batu Tiga, Shah Alam. Some 509 people have been screened with 16 testing positive.

The Industri Indah cluster is a workplace cluster in Klang with its first case found positive on Jan 28 in a targeted screening at a factory in Kapar. Some 87 people have been screened with 47 testing positive.

The Jalan Klang construction site cluster is a workplace cluster in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur with its first cases detected today in a targeted screening. Some 370 were screened, with 50 testing positive.

The Jalan Vista construction site cluster is a workplace cluster in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur with its first cases detected on Jan 20 in a targeted screening. To date, 462 were screened with 47 testing positive.

The Jalan Kota Burok cluster involves factory workers in Muar, Johor. The index case was detected on Jan 23 during a test taken before leaving the country. To date, 51 have been screened with 30 testing positive.

The Jalan By Pass cluster is a workplace cluster in Segamat, Johor. The first cases were detected on Jan 27 in a targeted screening at a training institute. As of today, 103 had been screened, with 23 testing positive.

The Jalan Bistari Dua cluster is a workplace cluster in Johor Bahru. The first cases were detected today in a targeted screening at a factory in Skudai. Some 55 had been screened, with 17 testing positive.

The Jalan Empayar cluster is also a workplace cluster in Johor Bahru. The first cases were detected on Jan 22 in a targeted screening at a factory in Nusajaya. To date, 74 had been screened with 18 testing positive.

The Jalan Rusa Scientex cluster is another workplace cluster in Johor Bahru. The first cases were detected on Jan 24 in a targeted screening at a market in Pasir Gudang. To date, 120 had been screened with six testing positive.

The Tinanom cluster is a community cluster in Ranau, Sabah. The index case was detected on Jan 19 after the screening of an individual displaying symptoms. To date, 65 were screened with 46 testing positive.

The Jalan Sepanggar cluster is a workplace cluster in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The index case was detected on Jan 27 after the screening of an individual displaying symptoms. As of today, 80 were screened, with 12 testing positive.

The Tabong cluster is a community cluster in Bau, Sarawak. The index case was detected on Jan 27 after the screening of an individual displaying symptoms. To date, 74 have been screened with seven testing positive.

Noor Hisham also said there were 375 active clusters. - FMT, 29/1/2021

 

Muslim majority Kazakhstan abolishes the death penalty - when will Malaysia?

Kazakhstan is one of the latest countries to abolish the death penalty - it is a country where about 70% of its population are Muslims.

 Islam is the largest religion practiced in Kazakhstan, with estimates of about 70.2% ^[2] of the country's population being Muslim. Ethnic Kazakhs are predominantly Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi school.^[3] There are also small number of Shia and few Ahmadi.^[4] Geographically speaking, Kazakhstan is the northernmost Muslim-majority country in the world. 

For Malaysians, Kazakstan is known as our former Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's son in law is from Kazhakstan, and Malaysians today have 'visa on arrival' status there - i.e., we can fly in and enter easily, without first having to apply for and get any visa.

 

Kazakhstan scraps death penalty after nearly 20-year moratorium

Kazakh president signs parliamentary ratification of document that commits countries to abolish capital punishment.

Executions were paused in Kazakhstan from 2003 [File: Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters]

2 Jan 2021

 

Kazakhstan has abolished the death penalty, making permanent a nearly 20-year freeze on capital punishment in the Central Asian country, according to a notice on the presidential website.

The notice published on Saturday said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had signed off on parliamentary ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – a document that commits signatories to the abolition of capital punishment.

Executions were paused in Kazakhstan from 2003 but courts continued to sentence convicts to death in exceptional circumstances, including for crimes deemed “acts of terror”.

Ruslan Kulekbayev, a lone gunman who killed eight policemen and two civilians during a rampage in Kazakhstan’s largest city Almaty in 2016, was among the convicts set to be executed if the moratorium were lifted.

Kulekbayev will serve a life sentence in jail instead.

Life imprisonment was introduced in Kazakhstan in 2004 as an alternative punishment.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted in 1966, entered into force in 1976, and 173 states acceded to it.

The Second Optional Protocol to it, aimed at the abolition of the death penalty, was adopted on December 15, 1989, and came into force in 1991.

Kazakhstan’s parliament ratified the protocol on December 29. Apart from Kazakhstan, 88 other nations are members of the agreement.

“The signatory countries take the following obligations: first, not to apply the death penalty, second, to take all necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within their jurisdiction. The only exception is the death penalty is allowed in case of wartime,” Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi said at the time. - Al-Jazeera, 2/1/2021

Najib: Seized items belonged to daughter, in-law was married to Kazakhstan’s richest man

Wednesday, 08 May 2019 07:21 PM MYT

By Jerry Choong

Nooryana Najwa Najib and her husband Daniyar Kessikbayev (left) accompany her mother Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya June 5, 2018. — Reuters pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has claimed that the items confiscated from his house on May 18 last year actually belonged to his daughter, and not him.

He said this is the case as his daughter’s mother-in-law was married to a man considered one of the richest in his home country of Kazakhstan for 10 years.

“My daughter’s mother-in-law and her child also live with us. Many things confiscated by the police belong to them, including presents my daughter and her husband received,” Najib said in a Facebook post.

Although he did not mention his daughter’s name, Najib is referring to Nooryana Najwa and her husband Daniyar Kessikbayev, who tied the knot in March 2015.

Kessikbayev is the nephew of former Kazakhstan president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who recently stepped down from office in March after nearly 30 years in power.

Najib claimed that Kessikbayev’s mother, noted Kazakh socialite Maira Nazarbayeva, had spent up to US$75 million (RM311 million) of her ex-husband’s money to buy jewellry from just one jeweller during their marriage.

He attached a news article to his Facebook post which said that in 2013 Nazarbayeva’s ex-husband, oligarch Bolat Nazarbayev, accused her of purchasing the jewellery from Jacob and Co.

The report also said Nazarbayev was pursuing a lawsuit against her and her son from another marriage on grounds they duped him out of a 4,000 sq ft apartment in New York worth US$20 million (RM83 million).

Najib said the items confiscated can only be held for three months, according to law, but could be extended once for an additional nine months by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“The confiscation date will expire in 10 more days, after which the items must be legally returned if the authorities fail to prove they were purchased using illegitimate funds and have filed no charges on the ownership of said items.

“Until today there have been no charges laid. However, Pakatan Harapan has used the seizure of the assets as a very cruel propaganda tool to humiliate me by accusing me of obtaining money and the items from illegitimate activities or 1MDB,” he said.

An investigator guards sealed boxes believed to contain luxury designer bags in a Black Maria outside Pavilion Residences in Kuala Lumpur May 18, 2018. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Najib dismissed the claim that the seized items amounted to RM1 billion.

“Having served as an MP for 43 years, then a minister, former deputy prime minister and then prime minister, I had the chance to meet and get to know many friends and royals both within and outside the country.

“In that time my family and I have been given all sorts of gifts at their events, including weddings, anniversaries and birthdays,” he said.

Najib cited one gift from the King of Saudi Arabia, a portion of the kiswah cloth that adorns the Ka’aba in Mecca said to be worth US$20 million (RM83 million), which he said was actually worth more as it was a personal gift to him from the king.

“Yet as with the rest of their propaganda and their slander, Pakatan cannot and is incapable of proving this as every donation received was recorded, listed down and investigated to their satisfaction.

“If returned, certainly it will prove me to not be corrupt, or having purchased the items using 1MDB money or other illegitimate sources of money,” he said.

Police trucks are seen leaving Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house carrying boxes believed to be personal belongings related to an ongoing money laundering probe May 17, 2018. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri

Earlier today, it was reported that Putrajaya and the police have initiated legal action to forfeit property, jewellery, luxury goods, vehicles and other valuables seized during raids on Najib last year over the 1MDB corruption scandal.

According to The Edge Markets, two notices of the civil forfeiture action were submitted to the High Court yesterday informing it of the intent to take ownership of the items Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, were suspected of obtaining using stolen 1MDB funds.

The news outlet said it learned that the first notice was for an unnamed property in the Klang Valley and goods such as jewellery, designer handbags, watches, and sunglasses valued at RM680 million.

Another motion was for the intended forfeiture of 27 luxury vehicles, watches, bags and money contained in 29 bank accounts, all of which amounted to RM31 million in appraised value.

The police’s Commercial Crimes Investigation Department conducted high-profile and repeated raids on locations linked to Najib last year and filled several Black Marias with items seized under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001.

Police had raided luxury condominiums at the Pavilion Residences and Najib’s personal mansion on Langgak Duta, both here. - Malay Mail, 8/5/2019

Malaysia Covid infection rate worse than Indonesia,Philippines, Bangladesh? Something wrong? Priority - Health or Business?

As Malaysian Covid-Cases continues to rise - it is extremely disturbing that our number of cases per million population is higher than Indonesia, Philippines, Bangladesh, ...

Malaysia on 23/1/2021 had  5,536 per million population

Philippines -  4,635 per million population

Indonesia  3553 per million population

Bangladesh - 3208 per million population

Japan 2820 per million population

Source:- Worldometer on coronavirus - https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=homeAdvegas1?

During the 1st MCO, Malaysia successfully reduced the number of daily cases - and we moved into Recovery MCO..

But then, our numbers rose again - and this time Muhyiddin's Perikatan Nasional government's government policy and action may be flawed...

The new MCO - it is different from the earlier first strict MCO - as many workplaces have been given exceptions - even childcare/tadika are exempted..

This government through the Emergency Proclamation and the Ordinance that followed saw it fit to shut down Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies because of Covid-19, but failed to shut down all other really 'non-essential' businesses and establishment. 

Are the MPs and ADUNs health more important that ordinary workers...remember workers have no choice to stay home safe when their workplace is operational..

Personally - a total lock down for a period of 4 weeks would have significantly cut down the spread. But now, when workers go to workplace, and then travel home to their families - the RISK is being faced by the workers, the families and also their communities.

Some business establishments have yet to be allowed to OPERATE since March 2020 - not even during Recovery MCOs > and there must be direct government assistance to these businesses that are MOST affected.

Compared to Indonesia and Philippines, one would have expected the 'more developed' Malaysia would have a better success in dealing with Covid - and it was shocking to see that our infection rate per million population is higher that some of these countries.

A FASTER elimination of Covid is certainly the best for Malasia's and personal economy...

A bad policy and practice would only prolong the Covid-19 threat ..

How did Malaysian prisons get infected? Did they not subject new detainees to 14-day quarantine before they were introduced to the general prison population? 

What is happening - is it time for the PM and government to RESIGN to be replaced by a new PM and 'cabinet'?

Focus on PUBLIC HEALTH not business

A lot of monies were lost from the Malaysian government coffers through kleptocracy, corruption, abuses,... IS THAT WHY MALAYSIA DOES NOT ENOUGH MONIES TO HELP THE PUBLIC? Where is the monthly assistance to workers and other income earners - who have lost earning possibility, incomes, etc ..

Spike in workplace clusters worries health DG

Bernama

January 23, 2021 11:00 PM

There were 80 clusters reported in manufacturing between Jan 6 and Jan 22, the health ministry said. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has expressed concern over the recent spike in the number of Covid-19 clusters involving workplaces.

He said a total of 350 new clusters were reported between Jan 6 and Jan 22, of which 225 or 64.3% were linked to workplaces.

Manufacturing-related clusters recorded the highest number of clusters with 80 clusters, followed by construction (53) and service-related (31), he said in a statement. A total of 28,477 people were confirmed Covid-19 positive from the clusters.

He urged all employers and their employees to work hand in hand in assisting the ministry to contain the transmission of the virus at workplaces by always adhering to stipulated procedures.

He said employers need to provide conducive residential areas for their employees and ensure that they always practise infection prevention measures including temperature and symptoms checks prior to entering their workplaces.

Employees must also avoid gathering in confined places, and observe physical distancing at all times. - Free Malaysia Today, 23/1/2021

 

 

Police involvement in death and rape in Malaysian lock-ups? Charge, not protect, police who commit crimes - clean up the police?

 Man who died in lock-up was beaten by detainees on a cop's orders - Suhakam

Published 21 Jan 2021, 4:56 pm

Modified 5:29 pm

26

A man who died while under custody at the Bentong District police headquarters lock-up last year had been beaten by two detainees on the instruction of a police officer, the Human Rights Commission found.

The commission said that G Jestus Kevin, who was detained for alleged theft last April, died as a result of swelling of the brain due to blunt force trauma, according to forensics.

"Suhakam, through a statement given by the forensics doctor, had confirmation that the deceased had many injuries, including broken ribs.

"Other detainees at the lock-up testified that the deceased was tied up using a blanket, and beaten by another detainee - as confirmed by CCTV recordings," Suhakam commissioner Jerald Joseph said in an online press conference today.

According to Jerald, an officer had ordered the other detainees to "tenteramkan" (control) Jestus Kevin, and watched while he was being beaten.

The officer did not take any action to save the deceased, the commission found.

The detainees who beat Jestus Kevin were also given cigarettes, allegedly as pay to "guard" the deceased.

According to Jerald, the deceased should have been taken for medical attention prior to the beatings, as he displayed signs of mental instability such as attempting suicide, speaking to himself, and climbing walls.

"Instead, the deceased continued to be detained and was then injured by other detainees in the cell," he said.

Suhakam identified those involved in the death

Suhakam has identified the detainees and officer involved in the death and called for stern action to be taken against them.

The commission also recommended for action to be taken against the officers who did not ensure Jestus Kevin's safety while under detention, despite showing signs of ill mental health.

Jestus Kevin, 30, was detained for alleged theft on Apr 2, 2020, and found dead three days later.

According to Bentong District police chief Yusof Unis, police personnel on duty found that the victim experienced breathing difficulty on Apr 5, and called for an ambulance.

He said when the ambulance arrived at lock-up, the victim was found dead.

Deaths in custody have been one of the primary reasons that activists have been pushing for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

However, the Perikatan Nasional Plus government is instead pushing for a significantly watered down Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC), which does not have the authority to punish errant officers. - Malaysiakini, 21/1/2021

Two cops suspended after girl claims raped by detainee in Miri lockup

Sunday, 17 Jan 2021 09:13 AM MYT

Police are investigating an incident in which a 16-year-old girl claimed that she was raped by a male detainee while being held at the Miri Police Station lockup. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

KUCHING, Jan 17 — Police are investigating an incident in which a 16-year-old girl claimed that she was raped by a male detainee while being held at the Miri Police Station lockup on January 9.

Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Aidi Ismail has given the assurance that a thorough investigation would be carried out to determine whether there are elements of negligence in the case.

“Two police personnel on duty on the day the incident took place have been immediately suspended from their duties,” he said briefly when contacted by Bernama tonight.

Senator Alan Ling Sie Kiong through a posting on his Facebook page today said that a teenage girl has lodged a police report over the incident. — Bernama - Malay Mail, 17/1/2021

PEKERJA(serta keluarga) yang terpaksa kerja semasa PKP - keutamaan menerima Vaksin Covid-19?

PEKERJA harus diberikan vaksin Covid-19 - khususnya mereka yang terpaksa masuk tempat kerja untuk bekerja semasa PKP/MCO[Movement Control Order]. Mereka ini mempunyai RISIKO tinggi berbanding dengan mereka yang bekerja dari rumah.

Pekerja Tempatan kini nampaknya diprejudiskan kerana kini kerajaan melalui undang-undang, hanya memerlukan pekerja asing disaring untuk Covid-19. Anih, bila dasar atau undang-undang tidak melibatkan PEKERJA TEMPATAN.

Memperincikan pemberian vaksinasi, beliau berkata Jawatankuasa Khas Jaminan Akses Bekalan Vaksin COVID-19 telah membuat perancangan vaksinasi mengikut senarai keutamaan dengan matlamat melindungi kumpulan paling berisiko tinggi iaitu petugas barisan hadapan sektor keselamatan serta kesihatan.

“Disusuli warga emas dan individu berpenyakit kronik diikuti populasi dewasa lain bagi membentuk imuniti kelompok. Jika anda adalah seorang dewasa yang sihat di bawah umur 60 tahun dan bukan petugas barisan hadapan, jangkaan paling awal menerima vaksin adalah pada suku ketiga tahun ini,” katanya.

 

Setahu saya, polisi kerajaan tentang pengunaan pekerja migran(asing) di suatu tempat kerja ada hadnya - kalau tak salah, tak melebihi 30 peratus(tetapi ini pun tak jelas kini, dan perlu didedahkan oleh kerajaan - adakah kini tempat kerja boleh mengunakan 100% pekerja asing, di mana ini nampaknya tak wajar dan memprejudiskan pekerja tempatan). Apakah undang-undang Malaysia? Adakah masih mempunyai kuota mengenai pengunaan pekerja asing di satu-satu tempat kerja ...atau tidak ada lagi)

Pekerja serta mereka yang terpaksa keluar bekerja/berniaga semasa PKP/MCO harus diberikan keutamaan menerima vaksin - Bukankah mereka juga 'FRONT LINERS'. Mereka semua ini dan keluarga mereka perlu diberikan vaksin - kerana pekerja yang keluar bekerja di tempat kerja ...akan pulang ke rumah - Justeru risiko menjadi mangsa Covid-19 bukan hanya pekerja tersebut tetapi keluarga(serta semua yang tinggal bersama nya).

Ada kalangan FRONT LINERS yang mengadapi risiko tinggi - khususnya mereka yang kerja difasiliti kesihatan - hospital/klinik. Juga mereka yang terlibat dengan 'contact tracing' secara fizikal dan yang menjalankan ujian mengenal pasti sama ada seorang itu positif Covid atau tidak.

FRONT LINERS lain yang selalu dilupakan adalah pekerja/peniaga yang terpaksa bekerja semasa PKP supaya ekonomi tidak tergugat dan/atau supaya semua terus mendapat makanan atau perkhidmatan perlu.

Malangnya, ramai hanya memikirkan pekerja sektor kesihatan saja (atau polis/askar/RELA yang bertugas saja) ada dalam kategori FRONTLINERS.

SEMUA PEKERJA YANG TERPAKSA MASUK BEKERJA SEMASA PKP jangan dilupakan kerana mereka ini juga FRONTLINER.

Selepas pekerja yang kini terpaksa bekerja semasa PKP(dan keluarga mereka), kategori seterusnya harus pekerja/orang perseorangan yang tidak dibenarkan masuk kerja atau perniaga kerana PKP - masalah adalah kehilangan kerja/pendapatan..

Dalam proses pevaksinan, isu kaum, agama atau kewarganegaraan harus tidak menjadi faktor..

Pekerja kerajaan yang boleh terus kerja dari rumah, di mana mereka tidak ada masalah kehilangan gaji/pendapatan kerana kerajaan pasti membayar...sama juga dengan GLC dan/atau agensi kerajaan yang lain... 

Keperluan majikan hanya perlu jalankan saringan Covid-19 untuk pekerja asing harus dipinda - untuk memastikan semua pekerja, termasuk pekerja tempatan, yang terpaksa masuk kerja semasa PKP harus disaring untuk Covid-19.

 

 

Malaysia Masih Antara Terawal Terima Vaksin COVID-19 – Khairy

14 January 2021 Berita Lain

KUALA LUMPUR, 14 Jan – Walaupun negara maju lain serta negara jiran telah mula menerima vaksin COVID-19, Malaysia berada dalam landasan tepat untuk menerima bekalan vaksin itu bulan depan dan masih merupakan antara negara terawal di Asia Pasifik untuk menerimanya.

Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi Khairy Jamaluddin berkata Malaysia tidak terlewat walaupun negara lain telah menerima bekalan vaksin lebih awal dengan membayar wang pendahuluan yang tinggi sebelum data keselamatan dan keberkesanan diterbitkan.

“Malaysia membuat keputusan perolehan berdasarkan penelitian ujian klinikal tanpa perlu membayar harga premium atau wang pendahuluan yang tinggi. Maka Malaysia boleh menilai proses vaksinasi di negara lain supaya apabila pelaksanaan vaksinasi kelak, kita mampu melaksanakan secara teratur dan berkesan.

“Ramai yang mempersoalkan tentang ‘kelewatan’ Malaysia dalam memperoleh vaksin terutamanya apabila melihat negara jiran mula menerima vaksin COVID-19. Saya ingin jelaskan bahawa Malaysia masih lagi ‘on-track’, malah tempoh masa ini telah dipersetujui dalam rundingan bersama Pfizer pada November lepas,” katanya dalam ciapan Twitter beliau hari ini.

Mengenai proses penerimaan vaksin bulan depan, Khairy berkata kesemua vaksin yang ditempah tidak akan diterima secara serentak sebaliknya mengikut suku tahunan.

“Untuk vaksin keluaran Pfizer, satu juta dos akan diterima pada suku pertama, 1.7 juta (suku kedua), 5.8 juta (suku ketiga) dan 4.3 juta (suku keempat). Ini juga adalah sama dengan vaksin keluaran syarikat lain yang telah ditempah,” kata Khairy.

Memperincikan pemberian vaksinasi, beliau berkata Jawatankuasa Khas Jaminan Akses Bekalan Vaksin COVID-19 telah membuat perancangan vaksinasi mengikut senarai keutamaan dengan matlamat melindungi kumpulan paling berisiko tinggi iaitu petugas barisan hadapan sektor keselamatan serta kesihatan.

“Disusuli warga emas dan individu berpenyakit kronik diikuti populasi dewasa lain bagi membentuk imuniti kelompok. Jika anda adalah seorang dewasa yang sihat di bawah umur 60 tahun dan bukan petugas barisan hadapan, jangkaan paling awal menerima vaksin adalah pada suku ketiga tahun ini,” katanya.

Menurut beliau, mengurus jangkaan adalah penting memandangkan pelan vaksinasi Malaysia mengambil masa sehingga 18 bulan.

Selain itu, Khairy turut memberi jaminan bahawa kesemua vaksin dikenal pasti selamat serta berkesan bagi memastikan kepentingan orang ramai serta kewangan negara terpelihara. – BERNAMA - sumber UMNO Online

Vaksin Covid-19: Rakyat Malaysia di Singapura antara terima suntikan

• myMetro

Singapura: Sejumlah rakyat Malaysia yang bekerja di Singapura sudah menjadi antara penerima suntikan vaksin Pfizer BioN Tech di negara berkenaan.

Mereka yang sudah menerima suntikan vaksin berkenaan, kebanyakkan bekerja dalam sektor yang diberikan keutamaan untuk menerima vaksin, di republik itu.

Sebahagian daripada mereka sudahpun berkongsikan pengalaman menerima suntikan di Facebook Malaysian-Singapore Border Crossers, yang kini mempunyai hampir 82,000 ahli.

Imra Astata Ibrahim yang bekerja dalam sektor marin berkata, beliau menerima suntikan vaksinnya yang pertama pada 13 Januari dan akan menerima suntikan kedua selepas 21 hari.

Ketika dihubungi Bernama, Imra Astata, 40, yang menyewa di Jurong West di sini berkata, beliau tidak teragak-agak untuk menerima suntikan vaksin tersebut bersama 10 lagi rakan dari Malaysia.

Malah, bapa kepada tiga cahaya mata itu berpandangan yang dengan mengambil suntikan berkenaan, keadaan akan menjadi lebih mudah untuknya berulang-alik ke Johor seperti sebelum ini.

"Siapa tahu, mungkin akan ada satu persefahaman antara kedua negara, bagi memudahkan pergerakan untuk pekerja yang sudah menerima vaksin ini," katanya.

Imra Astata kembali ke republik itu untuk bekerja pada 24 September lalu, selepas langkah-langkah memperketatkan pergerakan antara kedua-dua sempadan negara itu diperkenalkan pada Mac tahun lalu, bagi mengekang penularan pandemik Covid-19.

Ketika ditanya jika terdapat sebarang kesan sampingan selepas penerimaan vaksin tersebut, Imra Astata berkata, sebelum menerima suntikan itu, beliau dan rakan-rakannya sudah dimaklumkan mengenai kemungkinan adanya kesan sampingan.

"Setakat ini, saya dan rakan-rakan masih sihat selepas mengambil suntikan. Hanya pada hari menerima suntikan, saya rasa sedikit kebas dan sakit di tempat suntikan," kata Astata yang berasal dari Johor.

Kerajaan Singapura memperuntukkan semua rakyat Singapura dan penduduk jangka panjang di negara itu, untuk menerima vaksin sebelum akhir 2021, jika tiada gangguan yang tidak terjangka dalam penghantaran vaksin berkenaan.

Singapura menerima penghantaran pertama vaksin Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 pada 21 Disember tahun lalu.

Bagi memastikan ketersediaan vaksin dan membolehkan Singapura mencapai kadar yang lebih tinggi pemberian vaksin kepada penduduk republik itu, vaksin berkenaan akan diberikan secara percuma.

Menurut kenyataan Kementerian Kesihatan Singapura sehingga 12 Januari 2021, lebih daripada 6,200 individu sudah menerima dos pertama vaksin mereka di negara itu.

Menurut MOH, jumlah itu dijangka akan meningkat dengan banyak dalam minggu yang akan datang, apabila mereka mempertingkatkan lagi operasi pemberian vaksin mereka.

Sejajar dengan saranan daripada Jawatankuasa Pakar mengenai Vaksinasi Covid-19 untuk mengutamakan vaksinasi kepada kumpulan yang paling berisiko, Singapura memulakan aktiviti vaksinasi kepada petugas bidang kesihatan secara progresif bermula 30 Disember 2020.

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : Ahad, 17 January 2021 - My Metro, 17/1/2021

Is the ousting of State Rulers/Government's powers in the current Emergency Proclamation and Ordinance right?

Can the King(with the Prime Minister) oust State Ruler/Government powers? That is the question. - note that the Emergency Proclamation is also signed by Muhyiddin, the current Prime Minister.

In States, it is the Sultan/Ruler that has the power to dissolve the State Assembly and call for a State elections, to summon or cancel State Assembly seating. Were the State Rulers/Menteri Besar(or Chief Minister) even consulted or agreed to especially that Emergency Ordinance, that part that impacts on State Executive Power, sittings of State Legislative Assembly and/or the calling of State Elections?

Does the current Malaysian law allow the King and/or the Federal Prime Minister to do this? If yes, is there a need for changes in laws that will restore State government sovereignty and powers? After all, some States may not have so many cases, and as such, they may elect to still have a functioning State Legislative Assembly - after all, there is always the possibility of continuing to online State Legislative Assembly sessions - a necessary check and balance to the Executive during an Emergency.

Sabah and Sarawak have been fighting for State government powers - why is the same not happening in the Semenanjung States? YES, during the long BN rule, they also ruled most of the States, and so States were willing to surrender what should have been State powers/rights to the Federal Government - but now, the reality is that many State governments may not be ruled/governed by the same government that gets Federal power. Should we re-think our laws? 

The Emergency Proclamation was dated 11/1/2021, and thereafter, we had the Emergency(Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, which was gazetted on 14/1/2021 but is effective from 11/1/2021.

Malaysia is a FEDERATION of independent States, and each and every State has their own rulers and government - their own elections and State Legislative Assembly, and a perusal of the Emergency Ordinance shows that it affects all State governments and Legislative Assemblies. 

Section 11(b) says that the MB/Chief Minister and State Cabinet/Executive Council existing before the Emergency Proclamation have been conferred executive functions during 'Emergency"

 

Section 13 - says that State Elections(including by-election) on hold ...and that the elections will be held on a date as the Yang Di Pertuan Agung thinks appropriate after consultation with the respective Ruler or Yang Di Pertua Negeri.

Section 15 - in effect suspended the State Legislative Assemblies. Section 15(1)(b) says that a '...State Legislative Assembly shall be summoned, prorogued and dissolve as the Yang Di Pertuan Agung thinks appropriate after consultation with the respective Ruler or the Yang Di Pertuan Negeri...'

Now, the State Sultan/Rulers seems to have lost their powers to even choose/appoint Menteri Besar/Chief Ministers, to summon/prorogue/dissolve State Legislative Assemblies and to even call for for State Elections.

The ordinance seems to have transferred the power to the King - and State rulers seem to have only the right to be 'consulted' - is this right? 

Was this Ordinance even approved by the State Rulers? State Government?

Malaysia is a DEMOCRACY, and we have 3 governments, each with their own clear powers and rights

- the Federal Government

- the State Government 

- the Local Government(i.e. the Local Councils) - now suspended still.

The Federal Constitution clearly defines what comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government, and the State government.

Reasonably, State Constitution should also have defined what comes under the jurisdiction of State government, and the Local governments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Emergency Proclamation and Ordinance: Steps Too Far says former Bar Presidents... and concerns by current President?

Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 had been used in Malaysia to put all the required action to address the pandemic since March 2020 - It had the needed power and capacity to restrict movement, quarantine, etc ....so, why now the Proclamation of Emergency? 

Worse still the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 seems to be 'taking over' or overlapping regulations that can be put in place by already existing laws.

Remember the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 is not a law passed by Parliament - but by the King, who may have done as requested by the Prime Minister...And it surely came out very fast... if Emergency was the direction the government was moving, should it not have been discussed in Parliament for after all daily new case went over 1,000 in October...

The King also seem to have ousted State powers and sovereignty - the Ordinance have suspended the operations of State Legislative Assemblies, and the question that arises was whether the Sultans and the Rulers of the States consulted? Was the State governments consulted? 

There were some states where the Covid infections were high - but for some others it was low - was it reasonable to also suspend the operation of State Legislatures? 

Many questions arises... and many have opinions. Below are the statements by 10 former Presidents of the Malaysian Bar, and also a statement by the current Bar President..

READ it...

The Proclamation and Ordinance: Steps Too Far — by ten former Malaysian Bar Presidents 17 Jan 2021 11:06 pm

© Malay Mail (used with permission)

JANUARY 17 — Article 150(1) of the Federal Constitution provides for a Proclamation of Emergency only in situations where a grave emergency exists, namely where the security, economic life, or public order in the country is threatened.

It must never be sought lightly because it is anti-democratic and effectively suspends the Rule of Law. Such a Proclamation throws the country into a legal abyss where all power resides in the Executive.

Hence the heavy strictures for its use as prescribed in our Federal Constitution, which is founded on a framework of democracy, separation of powers and the rule of law.

Thus, it is incumbent on any responsible government to avoid seeking such a Proclamation save in the most extreme of circumstances. Do these circumstances exist here?

The Proclamation of 11^th January 2021 expressly relies on the Covid-19 pandemic as the threat to “security, economic life or public order” in the country.

Failing any other ground, this is hardly a legitimate reason for an emergency, particularly in light of the reach of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, the movement control orders made to contain the disease and the fact that most businesses continue to function, albeit under very challenging conditions.

More alarming is the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 promulgated under the Proclamation.

It gives unrestricted power over person and property. Amongst other things, it allows for the forcible taking of possession of land/building/property by the government with a RM 5 million fine/10 year jail sentence for a refusal to comply. The assessment of compensation is not by the courts and cannot be challenged in court. It also allows for the army to be given powers of search, detention and arrest equivalent to that exercised by the civilian police.

The most egregious provisions is the suspension of the sitting of Parliament and the legislative assemblies of the States. There appears to be no justifiable reason to do so. All it does is that it insulates the executive from accountability.

The suspension of the sitting of Parliament and the State Assemblies is unconstitutional. A Proclamation and any Ordinances promulgated pursuant to the Proclamation must be tabled in Parliament under Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution. This is for the purposes of Parliament exercising its constitutional power of scrutiny of the government. Both Houses may pass resolutions annulling the Proclamation and the Ordinances.

There is therefore a guarantee that Parliament will continue to function during the Emergency, as it did under the previous Emergencies. The Ordinance deprives Parliament of this critical constitutional power of check and balance. It denies our democracy.

It is astonishing that a pillar of our Constitution is suspended, whilst other businesses are allowed to operate.

The Ordinance further seeks to isolate and immunize the government from accountability and judicial scrutiny of its actions or omissions.

The “good faith” exception does not, in reality, afford protection against overzealous exercise of power or an abuse of it. It is axiomatic that no abuse of power by the Executive can ever be insulated from scrutiny by the courts.

It is regrettable that the elements of reasonableness and proportionality are absent in this matter.

Other measures mentioned in the Ordinance which are directly related to the pandemic are achievable through other means.

The Ordinance is therefore a window into the true reason for the Proclamation.

In the final analysis, it is very troubling that the Government has set a dangerous precedent for the use of Proclamations when the requisite conditions are not met under the Constitution.

This is unacceptable in a country that is built on the bedrock of democratic principles and the Rule of Law.

It is therefore imperative that both the Proclamation of Emergency and the Ordinance be laid before Parliament, as soon as possible.

*This statement is submitted by ten former presidents of the Malaysian Bar:

Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy
Zainur Zakaria
Dato’ Dr. Cyrus V. Das
Datuk Mah Weng Kwai
Datuk Kuthubul Zaman
Datuk Yeo Yang Poh
Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
Ragunath Kesavan
Christopher Leong
Steven Thiru

**This is the personal opinion of the writers and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail. - From Malaysian Bar Website

• Go back to list

Press Comment | Concerns Arising Out of the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 15 Jan 2021 8:27 pm

The Malaysian Bar respects the constitutional powers of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in exercising his prerogative to promulgate the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 (“Ordinance”), which carries the rights of an act of Parliament.  Nevertheless, we are concerned that the Ordinance which was gazetted on 14 January 2021, that strengthens the functions of the Government, has some significant issues.

 

Legal and fundamental rights cannot be abrogated during an Emergency.  This includes an individual’s right to receive fair compensation for land and building acquisition.  This is even more so when the breach of sections 3 and 4 of the Ordinance carries severe penalties.

 

Pursuant to section 10 of the Ordinance, “no action, suit, prosecution or any other proceeding shall lie or be brought, instituted or maintained in any court against the Government … appointed under subsection 6(1)” of the Ordinance.  While this is only confined to a class of persons as defined within section 6(1), this still grants the Government and its agents immunity in situations of negligence and for medical negligence.  The Malaysian Bar is of the view that a blanket immunity should not be extended as someone must be held accountable for mishaps that occur under the orders of the Government, be it in good faith or not.  An ouster clause does not necessarily shield the Government from being sued for any breach of fundamental human rights.  The wide-ranging powers under the Ordinance sends a chilling effect to ordinary citizens, since all the powers are concentrated in the Executive branch.  

 

The Malaysian Bar is also apprehensive of the powers granted to the armed forces during the Emergency period.  As provided under section 7(1) of the Ordinance, as long as the Emergency is in force, the armed forces will have the authority to arrest and detain, and possess the right of a police officer under the Criminal Procedure Code (“CPC”), as well as the authority vested in them under the Armed Forces Act 1972.  The Malaysian Bar takes the view that police officers are trained in the manner of handling civilians and day-to-day disputes, whereas the armed forces do not have the requisite experience.  We are concerned about the excessive use of powers by the armed forces when carrying out their duties.  The Malaysian Bar hopes that the fundamental rights of individuals will not be compromised during the Emergency and in the course of implementing the Ordinance. 

 

The Malaysian Bar feels that Parliament should be allowed to convene and be in session unless it is dissolved.  This will provide checks and balances to the function and role of the Government even during the period of this Emergency. 

 

The Malaysian Bar hopes that fundamental rights will not be compromised even during the Emergency and in the course of implementing the Ordinance.  As propounded in the Federal Court decisions of Semenyih Jaya and Alma Nudo, the protection of the basic structure doctrine of the Federal Constitution and the fundamental rights of citizens should be safeguarded in any given situation.  The rule of law is not some kind of receding mirage, but a fountain from which the nation draws its sustenance.  Emergency or not, it forms the basis of a democratic system. 

 

In light of the above, the Malaysian Bar calls upon the Government to exercise its Executive powers to only such an extent that is necessary to meet the particular needs of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, while upholding the rule of law and democratic rights of its citizens. 

 

 

Salim Bashir

President

Malaysian Bar

 

15 January 2021

 

 

See also earlier post:- 

Emergency or not - a PM without MAJORITY support cannot remain? King must appoint a NEW PM?

Emergency or not - a PM without MAJORITY support cannot remain? King must appoint a NEW PM?

If the King had proclaimed Emergency when Prime Minister Muhyiddin still enjoyed majority support amongst the Members of Parliament, then there will be not much of concern - if Muhyiddin and his Cabinet continues to be in power during the period of emergency.

12/1/2020 - this was the date of the Emergency Proclamation of the King, signed also by the Muhyiddin as Prime Minister.

But, on 9/1/2020 - Muhyiddin had already lost the support of the majority

Ahmad Jazlan's declaration effectively leaves the Perikatan Nasional government with the support of 110 MPs out of the 220 lawmakers currently in the Dewan Rakyat.  

Muhyiddin needed 111 MPs to maintain majority confidence - 110 was just not enough.

Then on 12/1/2021 - he lost another MP's support making him having only the support of 109 MPs - 

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today announced his withdrawal of support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's government...In a press conference this afternoon, the Padang Rengas MP said with his withdrawal of support, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is now left with 109 MPs on its bloc out of 220 MPs.

When a sitting Prime Minister loses the confidence of the majority, then has no choice but to RESIGN - and Muhyiddin lost that on 9/1/2020.

Art. 43(4) 
(4) If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request the Yang di-pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet.

What happens when the PM loses support of majority, he informs the King, and then there are 2 possibilities 

1  -  King dissolves Parliament and we have a new General Elections

2 - PM and Cabinet resigns, and King appoints another MP, who enjoys the confidence of the majority to be Prime Minister.

But, this time, a 3rd option seem to have been taken by the King - the Proclamation of Emergency...

Questions arise - did Muhyiddin inform the King that he had lost the confidence of the majority on 9/1/2020 - 110 was no longer the MAJORITY - he needs the support of 111 at least when the current total of MPs stand at 220.

The power in terms of appointing a new Prime Minister lies with the KING, during Emergency or otherwise.

After Mahathir resigned, the King appointed him 'interim Prime Minister' until a NEW Prime Minister was identified and appointed...

BUT, in this case, Muhyiddin seems to have lost his legitimacy on 9/1/2021, and ought to have RESIGNED - and, of course, the KING has the power to then appoint him interim Prime Minister - did this happen? It seems 'No' 

IS THAT A PROBLEM? Yes, it is ..., in my opinion.

Reasonably, the King should choose and appoint someone as the interim Prime Minister, if none has the requisite majority support 

Should it be Muhyiddin Yassin? Best maybe if some other is appointed as interim 'Emergency' Prime Minister, who then forms a Cabinet made up of the best MPs from all the different parties...

Of course, if some other MP can show that he/she has majority support, then he/she be appointed the Prime Minister...

Or did the Emergency Ordinance that came into being 'secured' Muhyiddin and his Cabinet until the Emergency ends? They cannot be removed until the end of Emergency - be it in August or even later?

Can such an Ordinance ignore the Constitution provided per-requisite for someone being able to remain Prime Minister? 

Can such an Ordinance 'remove' the capacity and power of the King to appoint a NEW Prime Minister? 

REMEMBER the Prime Minister is VERY IMPORTANT as it is his/her advice that determines what the King does or does not do - especially when it comes to passing of 'new laws' during this Emergency period...

Well, we may discuss this in some future post...

 

 

 

Nazri Aziz withdraws support for Muhyiddin's government

By Arfa Yunus - January 12, 2021 @ 2:14pm

Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has withdrawn his support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. - NSTP/File pic

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz today announced his withdrawal of support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's government.

In a press conference this afternoon, the Padang Rengas MP said with his withdrawal of support, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government is now left with 109 MPs on its bloc out of 220 MPs.

According to him, this would mean that the PN government did not have a majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.

Although the Dewan Rakyat comprises 222 seats, it is now down to 220 following the deaths of Batu Sapi MP Datuk Liew Vui Keong and Gerik MP Datuk Hasbullah Osman last year.

"I, Nazri Aziz of Umno and Barisan Nasional, Padang Rengas MP and Umno Padang Rengas division leader, officially retract my support for Muhyiddin's current government.

"I've given it a lot of thought before coming to this decision and this is the best decision I can make for my party.

"With my withdrawal of support, this means that today's government is only left with 109 seats after Jazlan and Tengku Razaleigh's withdrawal of support," he told reporters at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here, today.

Nazri was referring to an announcement on Jan 9 by BN's Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob, who withdrew his support for PN.

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah meanwhile had abstained from voting during the tabling of the 2021 Budget in Dewan Rakyat late last year.

Although Nazri claimed the government now only has 109 seats, Tengku Razaleigh never made an official announcement saying he no longer supported Muhyiddin and PN.

Nazri also claimed the Umno Supreme Council had accepted a motion to sever ties with the Muhyiddin-led Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), adding that he had received a mandate from the party to make today's announcement.

He added the reason he decided to make his announcement today was because the Umno General Assembly, scheduled for the end of this month, would not happen as the country was now under a State of Emergency.

"So this motion to sever ties is the party's stance, just that we don't get to formalise it during the assembly this Jan 31. In fact, I expect two or three more (Umno) MPs will follow suit."

Nazri had also labelled the declaration of a state of emergency as a "political emergency", stating that the Covid-19 pandemic could be dealt with the various movement control orders. _ New Straits Times, 12/1/2020

 

NEWS

PN govt left with 110 MPs after Machang MP withdraws support

Published 9 Jan 2021, 7:09 pm

Modified 10 Jan 2021, 6:37 pm

96

Umno's Machang MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub has announced his decision to withdraw support from the Perikatan Nasional government.

"I hereby announce my decision to withdraw my support for the Perikatan Nasional government which is led by Muhyiddin Yassin," he said at a press conference in Kota Bharu, Kelantan today.

Ahmad Jazlan's declaration effectively leaves the Perikatan Nasional government with the support of 110 MPs out of the 220 lawmakers currently in the Dewan Rakyat.

Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has voiced opposition to Muhyiddin too but has thus far abstained from voting against the government in Parliament.

However, while there are 110 MPs opposed to PN, the opposition is currently divided.

The main opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan has only 91 MPs as 17 other non-Umno lawmakers are not aligned with them.

The Kelantan Umno chief said he had yet to inform Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi about his decision but will do so.

However, he also opined there was no need to communicate his decision to the Umno supreme council.

“To me, I don’t need to get agreement from the supreme council members.

“Back when BN MPs supported the formation of the new PN government, this was before PN even existed, we never sought the agreement of the supreme council when we made our decision. The decision was simply endorsed by the party afterwards [...]

“But I will inform the Umno president and BN chairperson (Zahid) about this,” he said.

Contacted by Malaysiakini, he said he did not know whether any other Umno lawmakers will also be withdrawing their support for PN.

“This is my decision and I was not influenced by anyone. I don’t know about other MPs,” he replied.

‘Do not bully Umno’

Ahmad Jazlan opined today that his decision would not cause PN to lose its razor-thin majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

“What we are doing is to merely give (the government) a wake-up call to prioritise the rakyat.

“Do not torture Umno, do not bully Umno,” he added.

During the press conference, he explained that he was dissatisfied that PN continued to allow 1MDB-linked civil forfeiture suits against Umno divisions to continue.

“It is as if the Bersatu-led government has a certain agenda to restrict Umno's activities because these financial circumstances have caused some party activities to be stopped,” he said.

Other reasons included what he perceived as the government’s failure to fully fulfil Umno’s two Budget 2021 demands - for the loan moratorium to be extended and to allow all Employees Provident Fund contributors to withdraw lump sums from their retirement savings. 

Quitting MPOB a 'signal' 

Ahmad Jazlan's decision comes five days after he quit as chairperson for the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

At today’s press conference, he admitted that his resignation from the board had been a “signal” of his change of heart towards PN. 

“My recent resignation as MPOB chairperson was a signal. It indeed was a signal. I was just waiting for (the right) time,” he said.

The MP had previously pressured PN to dissolve Parliament at the end of January to pave the way for a snap general election.

Several Umno figures have also been calling for an imminent GE15, most notably party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.

It was previously alleged that Zahid had offered in a letter his personal support for Pakatan Harapan chief Anwar Ibrahim to topple PN but allegedly without first informing the party about such support.

Officially, Umno has denied the existence of such a letter. Umno’s stance is to not collaborate with Anwar or Harapan component party DAP.

---

Additional reporting by Annabelle Lee.

 

Deforestation and whether it made Pahang floods worse in 2021? Federal Government to compensate States for stopping logging activities?

Pahang was hard hit by the recent floods, and the question that arises is the effect of logging has caused..

'As of June 2019, there are 2.5 million ha of forest in Pahang with 1.56 million ha gazetted as permanent forest reserves.' - in terms of illegal logging '...Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was reported to have said that 2,531ha of permanent forest reserves in Pahang had been illegally cleared...'[Greater enforcement needed - and maybe an end of corruption too]

But are permanent forest reserves safe from logging? Or has the State government been simply allowing the logging of parts of permanent forest reserves (simply maybe by 're-classification')

'... the floods, especially in Pahang, are the result of humans destroying nature for the sake of development and profit. This is because of the uncontrolled forest clearing and logging activities, especially in Pahang and Kelantan...Forests play an important part to prevent natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, landslides, pollution, storms and other physical disturbances. Uncontrolled forest clearing in the country has had a significant impact not only on humans, but also on the environment....'

'Universiti Putra Malaysia senior lecturer Associate Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman said ...forests play an effective role in controlling flood problems by covering the soil surface from erosion due to rain and holding back and delaying the passage of rainwater to streams and rivers...“Forests are a natural ‘sponge’ in absorbing rainwater. This is because the structure of the forests, with tree roots of various sizes acts as a natural concrete network to hold the soil structure.

“When this role is eliminated, it is not surprising that when there is heavy rain, flood easily happens,” she told Bernama....According to Haliza, with uncontrolled development, including large-scale deforestation, it will cause the rainwater to flow faster.

This is because among the functions of the forest is to hold or delay the flow of rainwater to the river., but when there is development involving deforestation, it will disrupt the natural process of the water flow and cause locations downstream to get large amount of water, thus causing floods, she said.

“The widespread deforestation in the highlands, which is happening now, not only destroys nature but also the ‘cloud forest’ which can result in loss of water resources.”

The issue of forest clearing to make way for development is not new, as in the case of Pahang when the Earth Observation Centre found that more than 20% of the forest area in the state had been cleared for development since 1989.

Forest are like ATMs or easy money for State government - who cares less about flood, endangered species, river/water pollution, water catchment/reserves, etc? 

Environmental impact of deforestation affects all. Now the world acknowledges this - global warming, etc.

In Malaysia, noting that some States may need financial assistance from the Federal government - so that they do not log their remaining forests(which took centuries to grow) - END LOGGING - and the Federal Government will pay the state what they would have earned from logging - is this not a good idea?

Logging not only causes floods - but also so many other things like the loss of endangered/protected species of animals, birds,plants, etc..

The recent floods in Pahang should also raise other questions - river maintenance( should effort be taken to keep rivers deep? free from logging waste/consequence? Should natural 'flood barriers' like swamps be preserved - and not be filled up for development - resulting in a wider spread of floods?

Just because, we have been logging for decades that we have to continue the practice. End logging of forests(and forest reserves) - forest plantations should have already ended the need to log natural forests.

 

Jungles key to stopping floods

---

Published on 11 Jan 2021 8:45AM

A boat crossing a submerged road in Chenor, Pahang, yesterday. More than 20% of the forest area in Pahang have been cleared for development since 1989, leading to the economically devastating flood there. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, January 11, 2021.

THE weather is still blamed for the occurrence of natural disasters, such as the floods devastating some states now.

Although flood happens almost every year, what happened the past few years was different. The fast-rising muddy yellow water shows that human factor also contributes to the increase in the intensity and impact of the flood risk.

In fact, social-media users conclude that the floods, especially in Pahang, are the result of humans destroying nature for the sake of development and profit.

This is because of the uncontrolled forest clearing and logging activities, especially in Pahang and Kelantan.

Forests play an important part to prevent natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, landslides, pollution, storms and other physical disturbances. Uncontrolled forest clearing in the country has had a significant impact not only on humans, but also on the environment.

Universiti Putra Malaysia senior lecturer Associate Prof Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman said logging and changes in forest land use could increase the occurrence of natural disasters.

The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences lecturer said forests play an effective role in controlling flood problems by covering the soil surface from erosion due to rain and holding back and delaying the passage of rainwater to streams and rivers.

“Forests are a natural ‘sponge’ in absorbing rainwater. This is because the structure of the forests, with tree roots of various sizes acts as a natural concrete network to hold the soil structure.

“When this role is eliminated, it is not surprising that when there is heavy rain, flood easily happens,” she told Bernama.

According to Haliza, with uncontrolled development, including large-scale deforestation, it will cause the rainwater to flow faster.

This is because among the functions of the forest is to hold or delay the flow of rainwater to the river., but when there is development involving deforestation, it will disrupt the natural process of the water flow and cause locations downstream to get large amount of water, thus causing floods, she said.

“The widespread deforestation in the highlands, which is happening now, not only destroys nature but also the ‘cloud forest’ which can result in loss of water resources.”

The issue of forest clearing to make way for development is not new, as in the case of Pahang when the Earth Observation Centre found that more than 20% of the forest area in the state had been cleared for development since 1989.

Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was reported to have said that 2,531ha of permanent forest reserves in Pahang had been illegally cleared.

As of June 2019, there are 2.5 million ha of forest in Pahang with 1.56 million ha gazetted as permanent forest reserves.

Meanwhile, environmental group Pelindung Khazanah Alam (Peka) president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil called on the relevant quarters to stop blaming the natural phenomenon, including heavy rain, for causing the floods in the country, which resulted in damage to property and loss of lives.

“It is not due to rain or weather factors. As we know, at the end of the year, we have the northeast monsoon, which brings high rainfall sometimes.

“Big floods will not happen if we have enough forests to act as ‘sponge’ to control the flow of rain water. What is happening now is that the forests are being cleared, causing rainwater to flow along with the sludge and logging waste.”

As such, she urged state governments to stop using their forests as “automatic teller machines” (ATMs) or short cut for money.

She also suggested amendments to the law by placing land administration under the jurisdiction of the federal government. – Bernama, January 11, 2021. - Malaysian Insight, 11/1/2020