PM aids struggling single mother of six in Kuantan
Madiah's plight came to light after she was found living in a house with a cracked kitchen and rotting front floor. Despite her hardships, she welcomed visitors with warmth and humility, even urging them to prioritise others in greater need. Ahmad Farhan shared on Facebook, *'No complaints. No bitterness. Only a determination to live with dignity and raise her children with love.'*
The visit not only provided immediate relief but also highlighted Madiah's resilience. Ahmad Farhan added, *'May Allah ease the affairs of Madam Madiah and her children, and open wider doors of sustenance for them, Insya-Allah.'
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The Sun
17-07-2025
- The Sun
USIM teaching hospital to boost Kota Tinggi development
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The Star
15-07-2025
- The Star
Deputy Works Minister warns contractors against seeking extensions on public projects
KOTA KINABALU: The government will no longer entertain requests for extensions of time (EOTs) from contractors involved in public infrastructure projects, as part of stricter efforts to ensure timely delivery. Issuing the firm warning, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said this directive is especially relevant to Package 1B of the Pan Borneo Highway project, stressing that the delays experienced during Package 1A, which saw multiple EOT approvals, must not be repeated. 'We have learned from Package 1A. We do not want similar delays for Package 1B, which was only awarded at the end of last year. "Any delay is a loss to the people, the government, and the contractors themselves,' he told reporters during a site visit to the SK Pekan Lahad Datu project on Tuesday (July 15). Ahmad, who is on a three-day working visit to Sabah, explained that Package 1A consists of 15 work packages (WPs), while Package 1B comprises 19 WPs that were newly awarded in late 2024. He said previous experiences have shown that when one contractor is granted an EOT, others tend to follow suit, resulting in cascading delays across the entire project. 'Eventually, everyone gets an extension, and the whole project is delayed. We cannot afford for that to happen again,' he said, adding that under his administration and that of Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the ministry will not tolerate weak or fabricated excuses for EOTs. Citing examples from Package 1A, Ahmad said some contractors were given up to four or five EOTs, causing project delays of up to three years. He also reminded contractors that they are responsible for maintaining the roads under their segments during construction, not the federal road maintenance concessionaires. 'If these roads are not maintained, they will deteriorate and cause prolonged hardship for users. We do not want the public to continue suffering because of project delays,' he added. Ahmad also urged all stakeholders to focus on completing their projects AOT (ahead of time) not EOT, saying early delivery benefits all parties. 'Contractors save on operational costs, the government avoids unnecessary variation orders, and the public gets access to essential infrastructure sooner,' he said. As an example, he said if a contractor saves three months on a project with monthly operational costs of RM300,000, they stand to save RM900,000, while the government also avoids excess payments. Ahmad also reminded all stakeholders: 'Cosider this as an early warning … don't say later that you were not told. Let's avoid EOT for Package 1B and deliver on time, if not earlier.' Later, Ahmad inspected the progress on the RM29mil SK Pekan Lahad Datu upgrade project, which involves the replacement of 26 classrooms, four teachers' quarters, and various other facilities. The project, launched in April 2022, is currently 35% complete and is scheduled for completion by July 11, 2026. To prevent delays, Ahmad instructed the contractor to work overtime and recommended using Deed of Assignment (DOA) arrangements with suppliers, enabling direct government payment to speed up procurement. He also urged contractors to submit claims more than once a month and called on project officers to expedite material approvals to avoid bureaucratic bottlenecks. Ahmad also stressed that no EOT will be tolerated for the school project, and that the contractor must follow the timeline to ensure more than 1,900 students, expected to grow to 3,000, benefit from improved learning facilities on time. Established in 1937, SK Pekan Lahad Datu is one of the oldest schools in the district and currently operates in two sessions. The project is being implemented by the Public Works Department, through Special Project Team 2, with Bumi Daya Sdn Bhd as the main contractor.
Daily Express
11-07-2025
- Daily Express
Warisan accused of politicising Sabah's O&G
Published on: Friday, July 11, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 Text Size: Gordon (left) said recent remarks by Azis (right) on Sabah's role in oil and gas were misleading and could harm public understanding. Kota Kinabalu: Warisan has been accused of politicising Sabah's oil and gas matters without understanding the industry's realities. Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Youth Exco Gordon Horace Chin said recent remarks by Warisan's Datuk Azis Jamman on Sabah's role in oil and gas were misleading and could harm public understanding. 'Azis talks about upstream involvement, but ignores that Sabah already holds significant stakes, including 50 per cent in Samarang PSC, 10 per cent in LNG9, and 25 per cent in Samur under the agreement with Petronas,' he said in a statement. He said SMJ Energy, established by the GRS-led government, has delivered RM160 million in dividends to the State and was valued at RM5 billion. Chin said oil and gas exploration comes with high risks and costs, and SMJ's approach of acquiring producing assets first was a responsible strategy. He also addressed criticisms over the RM900 million sukuk used to acquire Sabah International Petroleum (SIP), calling it a market-backed refinancing, not a bailout. 'At the time, SIP was burdened with RM1.7 billion in debt and posed a risk to Sabah Development Bank. The restructuring, rated AAA and oversubscribed nearly four times, helped avoid a financial crisis,' he said. The restructuring saved the State over RM60 million in interest in one year, and allowed the bank to resume lending. He said Warisan attempted a RM10 billion sukuk when in power but failed to secure investor confidence. Chin also refuted claims that Warisan had settled the RM1 billion bond in 2019, saying it was done through a sinking fund set up since 2014. 'Sabah is recovering from years of mismanagement. Warisan should stop misleading the public with half-truths,' he said. He urged the public to focus on long-term solutions and support efforts to stabilise the State's finances and oil and gas sector. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
