Latest news with #RM200mil
The Star
a day ago
- Health
- The Star
RM595mil spent on treating patients at IJN in 2024, Dzulkefly tells Dewan Rakyat
KUALA LUMPUR: Some RM595 mil was spent treating patients at the National Heart Institute (IJN) last year, with the bulk comprising federal government pensioners, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Of the 44,257 patients treated there last year, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said 26,782 were pensioners with treatment amounting to RM358mil. Some 16,303 patients, meanwhile, were civil servants with treatment costs amounting to RM200mil while the remaining 1,172 comprised patients from low-income backgrounds, with treatment here coming to RM37mil. "This clearly shows that the government still funds pensioners and also patients from low-income groups that require treatment only available at IJN,' he said in a written reply dated Tuesday (July 29). Dzulkefly explained that treatment at IJN can be considered if the patient had received prior treatment at a government hospital and wsa later referred by either a government hospital general physician, cardiologist or emergency specialist to IJN. 'In emergencies, pensioners and civil servants can seek treatment at private hospitals, including IJN, subject to guidelines stated in related circulars. 'For patients from low-income backgrounds, government subsidies are subject to a socioeconomic evaluation by Health Ministry officers,' he said. Dzulkefly was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) who asked if IJN still has a welfare fund to assist poor patients.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
MMEA on high alert, strengthens fleet to tackle drug smuggling at sea
ALOR SETAR: With 80% of drugs entering Malaysia via sea routes, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has stepped up patrols and strengthened its fleet with new vessels and aircraft to curb cross-border smuggling. MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said that the agency remains on high alert and will continue to enhance maritime surveillance and enforcement to prevent drug syndicates from exploiting national waters. "MMEA will not compromise on any attempt to smuggle drugs into the country via sea. Every inch of our maritime borders is our responsibility," he said in a statement on Saturday (July 26). He acknowledged that Malaysia's waters remain a prime target for international drug syndicates, which use sea routes as their "safe passage" into the country. He made the statement following Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's disclosure on Friday (July 25) that the majority of drug supplies entering Malaysia come through maritime routes. From 2020 to June 2025, MMEA recorded 117 drug-related seizures nationwide, valued at nearly RM200mil. "These are not small figures and every seizure saves thousands of lives from drug addiction. We will continue to intensify operations and intelligence work with other enforcement agencies to address this issue," he said. To boost enforcement capabilities, MMEA has deployed the KM Tun Fatimah patrol vessel in the South China Sea and stationed new-generation patrol boats at hotspot areas. The agency is also expecting the Ex-USCG Cutter Steadfast patrol ship in November, an AW189 helicopter in 2026, and a Multi-Purpose Mission Ship (MPMS) from Turkiye in 2027. "These assets will strengthen not just our physical capabilities but also our monitoring and operational readiness at sea," Mohd Rosli said, thanking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for approving the acquisitions through the Home Ministry. Saifuddin had earlier said that MMEA is responsible for securing 680,000 square kilometres of Malaysian waters. – Bernama
The Star
19-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
MCA Youth calls for suspension of Selangor parking concessionaire plans
MCA Youth is urging the suspension of plans for the state government's controversial decision to appoint a new parking concessionaire, pending greater transparency on the details. "Announce all the terms and conditions first," said Petaling Jaya MCA Youth Chief Andy Teoh. Teoh, along with several MCA Youth leaders, addressed the parking concessionaire issue outside the Menara Petaling Jaya City Council today (July 19), highlighting its impact on four local councils in Selangor: Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). Teoh pointed out that the initial announcement for the new privatisation by the state was set for August 1, as declared by State Local Government and Tourism Committee Chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim on July 9. However, last week (July 15), Ng stated that the matter was not finalised. Teoh believes this is an opportunity for the state to disclose more information about the concessionaire. He expressed concern that the terms might not necessarily result in cost savings for the state. The state announced that the concessionaire would invest RM200mil in infrastructure for Selangor's Intelligent Parking (SIP), including approximately 1,800 CCTV cameras across the four local councils' jurisdictions. Teoh calculated that each CCTV camera would cost between RM110,000 and RM120,000, suggesting they should be technologically advanced. He found this cost unreasonable and instead advocated for improving services offered by local councils, questioning the necessity of privatising the service. Teoh also echoed Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung's call to review the privatisation process, noting that the local council would lose out on parking collection revenue, especially given the recent increase in Petaling Jaya City Council's assessment rates. He highlighted that previous privatisation concessionaires faced intense scrutiny from elected representatives, and this situation should be no different. "Listen to the rakyat, and we can safeguard the benefit of the local residents," he concluded.
The Star
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
Possible delay in parking deal
MPS, MBPJ, MBSA and MBSJ will set the policies in the privatisation of on-street parking under the SIP initiative. — Filepic THE planned Aug 1 rollout of Selangor's on-street parking privatisation exercise may be delayed if parties fail to agree on the terms. State local government and tourism committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said the privatisation under Selangor's Intelligent Parking (SIP) initiative hinges on final consent from all involved parties, including the four local councils involved in the first phase. While an in-principle agreement was in place, he said the finalisation of key details such as revenue sharing and contract duration was still underway and could delay the plan. 'We are currently finalising all the details. 'The Selangor state executive council may request a delay in implementation if certain parties are not agreeable to specific details,' he said. The four local councils (PBTs) involved in the first phase are Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Selayang Municipal Council (MPS). Ng was speaking at a press conference to address concerns regarding Selangor's move to privatise on-street parking fee collection, enforcement and management under the SIP initiative. Ng (centre), Mohd Ramali (left) and Johary fielding questions on Selangor's move to privatise parking fee collection, enforcement and management. He said the tripartite agreement involved the PBTs as the policy-setters, Menteri Besar Incorporated's (MBI) subsidiary Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd as the system coordinator and a private concessionaire as the system operator. 'The agreement will streamline and centralise the on-street parking system across all PBTs in Selangor,' he said. Ng added that the move was in line with the Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171). 'The implementation of on-street parking management through a concessionaire is not new in Selangor, as it has been used since 1996. 'As of June, five PBTs, including MBSA and MPS, still use the concession method,' said Ng, without explaining the difference between the SIP and the current concession agreements. He said that under the new agreement, enforcement would remain under local council jurisdiction, while the concessionaire would pay the salaries of enforcement officers and handle operational costs. 'Parking revenue will be distributed between the PBTs, Rantaian Mesra and the concessionaire based on an agreed model. 'PBTs will not bear any operational costs and can expect higher long-term revenue.' He said the concessionaire would invest RM200mil in infrastructure for SIP, including installing about 1,800 CCTV cameras across the first phase's four local councils' jurisdiction. He acknowledged that the local councils might initially see a dip in revenue, but were projected to benefit significantly after three years. Also present at the press conference at the State Secretariat building in Shah Alam were MBI Selangor general manager Mohd Ramali Abu Bakar and Selangor Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Johary Anuar. At an earlier event that day, Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had said that he would review the SIP initiative. 'I will look into this again since the issue has been brought up,' he said, confirming that Ng's statement on the privatisation of on-street parking were accurate. Amirudin said the state had received 26 Requests for Proposal by interested parties for the SIP and that MBI Selangor, which would oversee the concessionaire's performance, would prioritise the state's interest. 'We do not want to award it to just any party. 'In the past, some private operators were effective in collecting parking fees, while others were not,' he said.
The Star
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Johor seeks idle federal land for affordable housing
Onn Hafiz (second row, centre) and Mohd Jafni (to his right) with recipients of Johor affordable housing scheme certificates and other guests in Bukit Indah 2. — THOMAS YONG/The Star JOHOR is seeking use of 161ha of idle Federal Government land in Kempas, Johor Baru, to build more low-cost houses. State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said an application highlighting Johor government's intended use for the plot was sent to Putrajaya earlier this year. 'About 2,000 affordable houses could be built on the land. 'We are only seeking a portion of the overall plot that belongs to the Health Ministry. 'It has been sitting in a prime location without development for more than a decade,' he told reporters at Dewanraya Bukit Indah public hall in Bukit Indah 2, Iskandar Puteri. 'If permission is granted, the state will find its own budget and collaborate with the relevant housing funds and developers for as long as it takes to build as many affordable houses as possible,' he added. Mohd Jafni had earlier accompanied Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi who handed out Johor Affordable Housing (RMMJ) scheme certificates to home owners. He said the state was also looking to upgrade unused or unoccupied federal agencies' quarters to turn into affordable housing for civil servants. 'There is a four-storey block of quarters in Kulai that suits this criteria. 'However, if Putrajaya does not have the budget to repair the building, the state government is willing to fork out the funds and then offer the units to the rakyat as part of the RMMJ scheme. 'With Johor undergoing rapid development and new hospitals opening soon, there are surely many civil servants like doctors and nurses who would want to own a house,' he said. The state government earmarked RM200mil for RMMJ units in the Kempas plot as well as the upgrading of underutilised government quarters in Kulai, he added. 'Johor has taken its own initiative to develop more RMMJ units for the people and hopes for Putrajaya's support in the matter,' said Mohd Jafni. Earlier during the event, Onn Hafiz said out-of-the-box solutions were needed to ensure home ownership. The repurposing of unused federal land for the development of affordable houses was one such answer, he pointed out. He said there was pressing need for RMMJ units as the state government received more than 85,000 applications so far. 'We are not just handing out empty promises as we have already completed 10 main RMMJ projects in various districts. 'We expect to see the completion of more RMMJ developments in Iskandar Puteri, Tebrau, Kulai, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Kluang and Segamat this year and next year,' he said. Onn Hafiz added that millions of ringgit have been spent to repair and upgrade dilapidated homes statewide. He promised that the state would deliver 100,000 RMMJ units by 2030.
