Latest news with #Sedia
The Star
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah launches cockles development project to potentially generate RM34mil in annual revenue
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has launched its Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project, which has the potential to generate RM34.4mil in annual revenue, once fully operational. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this number was based on an estimated landing of 3,240 metric tonnes per year and a return on investment of 7.6 times. He said this project would open up new export opportunities for Sabah cockles through downstream activities such as canning, sambal kerang (cockle paste) and blood cockle-based food products, offering not only profits but also building a sustainable future. 'For the private sector, this is the best time to invest in seafood processing, sustainable packaging, and the development of Sabah's export supply chain,' he said at the launching of the project at the Borneo Beach and Mangrove Resort Tuaran, Saturday (July 5). Hajiji said the Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project aligned with the state government's commitment to ensure that the Blue Economy becomes a solid economic foundation for the people of Sabah. He said Sabah was committed to taking steps in exploring marine and maritime resources as part of efforts to strengthen the state's position in the international Blue Economy landscape. 'The Blue Economy not only has the potential to balance prosperity with sustainability, but by the year 2030, the global value of the Blue Economy is projected to reach USD3 trillion (RM12.6trillion),' he said. This project, to be carried out in two phases, was a collaboration between the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia), the Malaysia Fisheries Department and the Sabah Fisheries Department, said Hajiji. The first phase, which kickstarts the project, has already been completed and involved mapping studies and exploration of blood cockle (Tegillarca granosa) resources conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 at six potential locations, including Tuaran and Beluran, he said. The second phase of the project is scheduled to commence in 2026, involving the transfer of technology and actual field implementation. Hajiji said that a total of 77 aquaculture lots have been identified, comprising 12 in Tuaran and 65 in Beluran, covering an area of 1,617 hectares. Each lot will be managed by 10 household heads (KIR), making it a total of 770 KIR as the main beneficiaries, comprising fishery entrepreneurs, rural communities, and the B40 group. 'In fact, even if only 40% of the lots operate at optimum capacity, participants can generate a monthly income of around RM4,800 to RM6,500,' he said. 'Certainly, the communities involved will gain sustainable income through blood cockle farming. Youth will also be trained in modern aquaculture skills, producing a new generation of Sabah's marine entrepreneurs,' Hajiji said. He said this project would not only bring significant change to the people, particularly the community involved, but also to the environment and the state's economy. 'Sabah will be developed as the Asean Blue Seafood Hub, on par with major producing states such as Perak, Penang, and Selangor,' he said. Hajiji said the state government was fully committed to supporting this industry and wanted the project participants to get continuous training and modern technology. 'I urge the communities in Tuaran and Beluran, as the pioneers or leaders of this project, to fully utilise the acquired modern technology to enhance the capacity and productivity of the aquaculture sector,' he said.
Daily Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
No shielding policy for civil servants
Published on: Thursday, July 03, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Rosli, Hashim and invited guests in a group photo with participants at SICC. Kota Kinabalu: Integrity must remain a core principle in the civil service to maintain public trust in government institutions, said Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Seri Rosli Isa. He said the Federal Government spends over RM17 billion annually on salaries for federal civil servants in Sabah alone. 'That figure alone reflects the scale and importance of the civil service. With it comes the duty to carry out responsibilities with honesty and full accountability,' he said when officiating the Seminar on Integrity Governance: The Core of Public Service at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here on Wednesday. He also noted that Sabah has over 126,000 civil servants across federal and state levels, with more than 27,000 serving under the State Government. 'With such a large public sector workforce, it is crucial that integrity is upheld at all levels to ensure the system functions efficiently and public trust is maintained,' he said. Rosli said integrity goes beyond avoiding corruption, and includes upholding values and moral strength, especially when faced with internal and external pressures. He stressed that civil servants must not be protected from investigation if misconduct occurs. 'If an offence has been committed, the authorities must be allowed to take appropriate action. Our role is to foster a culture of ethics and responsibility,' he said. He also cautioned against assuming that isolated cases reflect the conduct of the entire civil service, saying such assumptions risk demoralising those who remain committed to doing their jobs well. The seminar was jointly organised by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) and Intan Sabah Regional Campus, drawing over 800 participants from Federal and State agencies. Sedia Chief Executive Datuk Seri Hashim Paijan said the programme aimed to strengthen awareness of governance and integrity among public officers. 'We've implemented our own Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan at Sedia. Seminars like this reinforce our commitment to transparency and ethical conduct in all government operations,' he said. Also present were Sabah MACC Director Datuk S. Karunanithy, Deputy Director of State Audit Khairul Anuar Amat Johari, heads of departments and invited panel speakers. The event also featured a session by a former offender convicted of corruption, who shared his personal experience as a lesson on the consequences of unethical behaviour. * 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
Daily Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
'Integrity essential to maintain trust in civil service'
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Rosli (centre) and others at the event. KOTA KINABALU: Integrity must remain central to the civil service to sustain public confidence in government institutions, said Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Seri Rosli Isa. He said the Federal Government spends over RM17 billion annually on civil servant salaries in Sabah, underscoring the size and significance of the public sector. Rosli noted Sabah has more than 126,000 civil servants across federal and state levels, and stressed that maintaining integrity at all levels is crucial for an efficient and trusted system. He said integrity includes moral strength and ethical conduct beyond just avoiding corruption, and that civil servants should not be shielded from investigation if wrongdoing occurs. The seminar, jointly organised by Sedia and Intan Sabah, drew over 800 participants and featured sessions on governance, including one by a former offender sharing the consequences of corruption. * 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
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gary's Historic Fight Against Gunmakers Faces New Challenge
One of the nation's longest-running legal battles over guns — with a predominantly Black city facing off against the nation's leading gun manufacturers, retailers, and the state of Indiana — is intensifying as Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita seeks its dismissal after Lake County Superior Court Judge John M. Sedia ruled in the city's favor last year. The city of Gary's historic lawsuit, which has entangled courts and lawmakers for decades, now hinges on the appellate court's view of a newly passed state law that could abruptly end the case. The lawsuit, initially filed in 1999, seeks to hold gunmakers accountable for their role in supplying firearms to criminals in a city that once bore the grim title of the nation's 'murder capital.' As Gary continues its fight against gun violence, the case remains a symbol of the broader struggle between local governments seeking accountability and state lawmakers siding with the firearms industry. 'The state legislature — acting on behalf of the everyday Hoosiers who elect its members — confers to cities and towns certain powers and functions,' Rokita said after submitting a brief for dismissal. 'The City of Gary cannot, then, choose to exercise powers that the legislature expressly has forbidden.' Rokita is referring to Indiana House Bill 1235, which then-Gov. Eric Holcomb signed last year. The law prohibits Indiana municipalities from suing firearm manufacturers, dealers, or trade groups. It also applies retroactively to August 27, 1999 — just three days before Gary filed its original lawsuit. While he acknowledged the constitutionality of the bill, Judge Sedia, in his ruling, highlighted that Gary and its residents are the true parties affected by gun violence, meaning the city has a legitimate claim and not the state. 'It [the Indiana General Assembly] cannot end this lawsuit, which the Appellate Courts of this state have found to be permitted by prior statute. To do so would violate years of vested rights and constitutional guarantees set forth so eloquently in Gary's memorandum of law,' Sedia said in his ruling. 'Gary made its decision to file and pursue this lawsuit on behalf of its residents against the defendants for damages sustained as a result of gun violence. Although the Court of Appeals has narrowed the scope of the claims, those remaining have been found to be legitimate.' A spokesperson with the attorney general's office told Capital B Gary shortly after Sedia's ruling: 'The General Assembly passed a common-sense law, and we were pleased the court agreed with our office on its constitutionality. This lawsuit, which was filed a quarter-of-a-century ago, is an embarrassing example of inefficient courtroom posturing and hollow anti-gun activism.' In 2023, Sedia ruled to open discovery — a process requiring the exchange of evidence between plaintiffs and defendants — potentially leading to the disclosure of decades of internal records for gun companies like Smith & Wesson, Glock, and Beretta. In court, Gary's attorney, Phillip Bangle, argued that HB 1235 responded directly to that court order. 'The defendants call [House Bill] 1235 a restoration statute, but its real title should be the Judge Sedia Discovery Order Override Act. That's what it is, and that's what it does,' Bangle said during oral arguments. Bangle also pointed out that the state legislature had multiple opportunities to pass similar laws in previous years, but only introduced HB 1235 in 2024 after the court ordered the discovery process. 'No one introduced 1235 in 2021, 2022, or 2023. Four years passed — four legislative sessions came and went — and suddenly, in January 2024, we have 1235,' Bangle argued. The bill's passage places Gary in a legal battle on two fronts: one against the gun companies and, at least for now, another against the state, as it attempts to squash the lawsuit. 'Supporters of the bill say Gary's lawsuit is 'frivolous.' But there is nothing frivolous about taking away the power of Hoosiers and violating our Constitution,' said Gary Mayor Eddie Melton. 'It's simple. You should not be able to change the law to avoid losing a lawsuit. But that is the sole goal of HB 1235.' Paul Helmke, director of the Civic Leaders Center at Indiana University Bloomington and former president and CEO of the Brady Center, sees the state bill as a hurdle that distracts from the lawsuit's merits. 'We need to get to the crucial point, which is that gun dealers, through their negligence, are they contributing to the gun violence in cities like Gary and neighboring communities?' Helmke told Capital B Gary. 'If you've got gun dealers who are irresponsible and negligent, that leads to more gun violence in our communities in Northwest Indiana, across the state, and across the region. And they should be liable for that,' Hemke said. In 1999, Gary officials strategically attempted to expose that alleged negligence through the lawsuit, which originated from an undercover sting operation called Operation Hollowpoint. Undercover officers conducted stings at several gun stores in the region, posing as suspicious buyers and successfully making straw purchases, where one person illegally buys a firearm for someone who is not legally allowed to purchase one. State Rep. Ragen Hatcher believes the lawsuit's mere existence has positively affected the city. 'I was in school in 1999, and at that time, Gary was the murder capital of the world. Gary has improved immensely since then, in part due to this lawsuit,' she said. 'This lawsuit warns firearms manufacturers that we noticed their predatory practices. We noticed that they were pumping guns to retailers, even though our community was suffering.' Gary shed its 'murder capital' label decades ago — indeed, 2024 Gary Police Department data shows a 10% drop in nonfatal shootings and a 23% decline in homicides compared to the previous year. Nonetheless, gun violence remains a concern for lawmakers. 'The City of Gary is committed to public safety and improving the health and well-being of its residents,' Melton said. 'Guns, however, do not respect municipal borders. We have seen many tragic instances in which guns sold by irresponsible dealers were trafficked into the hands of our citizens, resulting in terrible tragedies.' During this year's legislative session, state Rep. Earl Harris, chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, authored House Bill 1095, which extends the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force into Lake County to help prevent gun violence in the Region. The bill has passed both chambers of the legislature and now awaits the governor's signature. 'While homicides in Lake County have dropped in recent years, it's still imperative that we find ways to mitigate gun violence and enhance public safety in our community,' Harris said. 'This bill will help us get illegal guns and dangerous narcotics off our streets and make Lake County a safer place to live and raise a family.' 'I'd like to thank my sponsors in the Senate for their work to get this across the finish line, and I now look forward to working with Gov. [Mike] Braun to get this legislation signed into law.' State Sen. Rodney Pol, who served as a city attorney on the case, said he believes its significance lies at the heart of American democracy, and hopes the appellate judges share his perspective. 'My hope is that they see that no other industry gets to go and get out of court cases that are ongoing by going to the legislature and saying, 'Hey, we can't get a court to dismiss this based on … the merits of the case, can you just go ahead and dismiss this?'' Pol said. 'I think that is a massive disruption in the separation of powers, which is the foundational aspect of our government. My hope is that you have the courts that will look at this clear-eyed and can see the forest for the trees on that.' The post Gary's Historic Fight Against Gunmakers Faces New Challenge appeared first on Capital B Gary.
