PM announces RM250mil in project allocations for navy base in Lumut
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meeting with navy personnel in Lumut today. (Bernama pic)
LUMUT : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today announced project allocations totalling over RM250 million for the navy base in Lumut, to improve the well-being and welfare of security personnel, among other things.
He said RM65 million has been allocated for the construction of a specialist clinic complex and the upgrading of the armed forces hospital at the base.
Also approved were several key infrastructure projects, including the upgrading of the 33kV high-voltage distribution system, with an allocation of RM100 million, the replacement of the Bulk Fuel Installation operational tanks (RM23.3 million), and the upgrading of the operational jetty at the Lumut base (RM66.5 million).
'I urge the state secretary present here to immediately implement the construction of the specialist clinic complex and the upgrading of the Lumut armed forces hospital, for the well-being of navy personnel,' he said at a gathering with navy personnel here today.
Present were communications minister Fahmi Fadzil and navy chief Zulhelmy Ithnain.
Anwar said the government remains attentive to the need to enhance the country's defence assets, with the defence ministry receiving one of the largest allocations in the annual budget.
'Defence ranks third (in terms of allocation), after education and health. For 2025 alone, RM21.2 billion has been allocated – a significant amount for a developing nation,' he said.
He said the move reflected the government's appreciation of the sacrifices made by the security forces and was aimed at ensuring national stability, which is crucial for economic growth.
Anwar said he is often moved when learning of the poor condition of certain security assets that are still in use to safeguard the nation.
'That is why after becoming prime minister, I called in all the armed forces chiefs and asked them to outline their priority needs. Based on that, we work to secure sufficient funding to improve our defence machinery and assets,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
SST expansion for imported food aimed at high-income earners, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the people should compare the expansion of the SST with the GST, which was even imposed on basic necessities like sugar and flour. PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's decision to expand the scope of the sales and service tax on imported products, saying it is targeted at high-income earners. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said food items such as avocados and cod fish, which were imported, were generally purchased by the wealthy. 'If the rich want to eat avocados, then they will need to pay a little more,' he said at an event in Ipoh, Perak, today. On June 9, the finance ministry announced that a 5% to 10% rate will be imposed on non-essential goods from July 1, although basic necessities would not be taxed. Still, the announcement triggered brickbats. Other food items which will be slapped with a 5% tax include king crabs, salmon and truffles. Anwar also touched on the brouhaha over imported bananas, which were included in the revised list of items to be checked. He said locally produced bananas like pisang emas and pisang rastali would not be taxed. He urged the public to compare the expansion of the SST with the goods and services tax, which he said was even imposed on basic necessities like sugar and flour. 'Even though the rate was low, the rakyat had to bear the GST,' he said. Anwar admitted that while it was easier to implement the GST when compared to the SST, he wondered if the government should tax fishermen, small-time farmers and street sweepers. He said that whatever revenue was generated from tax collection would be used to increase the salaries of civil servants, social aid such as the 'Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah', and to develop infrastructure. Anwar said the government had allocated RM13 billion for the STR cash aid for the B40 and M40 groups to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living. 'I really hope the public understands this,' he said.
New Straits Times
7 hours ago
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Of private data and public use
WHENEVER the government says it is collecting personal data, Malaysians get the jitters. Can't blame them. One thought that crosses the mind of some people is: is Big Brother keeping watch on us? The other and more common concern is about leakages, of which there have been far too many without any serious consequences to those who were responsible. Understandably, the recent announcement by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil that Putrajaya is collecting phone call data from telecommunication companies for policymaking brought back the old anxiety, especially when they learnt that discussions between the government and the telcos have been going on since 2023. Phone call data is itself a fear-generating phrase. Does it mean data on all calls one makes are collected? Early communication would have helped allay the people's fears, but transparency isn't Malaysia's strong point. Putrajaya has to work hard on it. The government must understand people's fears. Every day, people are bombarded with numerous anonymous calls and text messages. Neither the telcos nor our regulators seem to be able to put a stop to such an invasion into our private world. Some even know the names of the phone owners. How did they get access to the names and phone numbers? Can't blame the people for suspecting it to be an inside job. People do recognise the government's need to work with personal data to deliver their services efficiently and effectively in this highly digitalised world. But their concern is how the personal information is collected, stored and shared. Not just telcos collect personal data, but all manner of companies do that. The important thing is robust oversight by regulators. Making the non-compliant accountable is critical. Since 2017, only about 20 companies have been compounded or fined for personal data breaches under the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA), some even for processing personal information without consent or permits. Thankfully, the amended PDPA that came into effect in January comes with a bigger bite. Data controllers and data processors face a fine of up to RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years or both for non-compliance. As under the unamended act, gathering evidence remains a huge challenge as the lawbreakers delete the data once non-compliance is detected. Some have described the hunt for evidence as a cat-and-mouse game, only more vicious. So where does this leave the people whose personal data has been made public by unlawful means? The tort of invasion of privacy, which is a well-developed civil remedy in several common law countries, isn't recognised in Malaysian jurisprudence. A court or two appeared to have thought it was a recognised tort, but higher courts have overruled such judicial activism. Perhaps the answer lies in the statutory introduction of the tort. Some will argue that there is no need for one because the PDPA is there, but they forget that it doesn't address civil remedies. Until such time when invasion of privacy does become a recognised tort in Malaysia, either through the courts or statutory introduction, people must seek recourse through other torts such as breach of confidence or negligence.
Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Local parties must lead and dominate Sabah politics, says Hajiji
Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman Hajiji Noor said the people want local parties to lead the government. PETALING JAYA : Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said local parties must be dominant in Sabah politics and prioritised when forming alliances for the 17th state election. He said the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government, which is formed by local parties, must be defended and continued in the upcoming election. 'We want to continue this government, and that is why this election is important. We must not make the wrong choice. Local parties must be dominant in Sabah's political landscape and must be prioritised,' he said at the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno) annual congress in Kota Belud today. Hajiji said any discussions on cooperation with other parties should not come at the expense of local leadership. 'Cooperation is another matter, but GRS as a local coalition must be defended. This aligns with the sentiment of the people on the ground who want local parties to lead the government. 'As GRS chairman, I will ensure this,' he said. Hajiji said he would not hand over the rights and struggle of GRS to those with ill intentions. 'I will not easily surrender what GRS stands for to those trying to undermine the coalition,' he said. He urged leaders and members of all GRS component parties, including Usno, to go to the ground and engage with the public on the coalition's 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', and 'Sabah First' philosophies. 'This is our mission. When we say, 'Rumah Kita, Kita Jaga', it should be understood clearly. We shouldn't have to explain bit by bit. It's simple, we take care of our own,' he said. Yesterday, Sabah PKR chief Mustapha Sakmud said official negotiations with GRS were set to begin ahead of the state election, following approval from the PKR and PH central leadership. However, GRS deputy secretary-general Armizan Mohd Ali said the coalition should 'honour' Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin's call for it to contest against BN in the polls before discussions on any possible cooperation.
