Latest news with #Sibert
New Straits Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
'Public unclear on heritage guidelines, land use regulations'
GEORGE TOWN: The demolition of a property that once belonged to the late tycoon Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew has renewed public concerns over Penang's approach to heritage preservation amid rapid urban development. Penang Heritage Trust honorary treasurer Trevor Sibert said the episode highlighted a significant gap in public understanding of heritage guidelines, land use regulations and the roles of local authorities in approving developments. "The issue shows there's a lack of awareness about what areas are protected and how decisions are made," he told the New Straits Times. "The land in question is privately owned and the development was approved by the Penang Island City Council. "Outside designated heritage zones, such actions are permitted by law." Sibert clarified that only parts of George Town fell within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Site, and no Malaysian state has designated its entire area as a heritage zone. "To subject an entire state to heritage controls would be impractical and hinder necessary development." The demolition has reignited the ongoing debate between heritage conservation and modern development. However, Sibert said, he believed this was not a matter of choosing one over the other. "Every time a development is approved, accusations of profit over culture surface. But Penang needs to strike a balance. "Development brings jobs, improves infrastructure and supports future generations. "At the same time, heritage itself can be an economic driver through tourism." Sibert also pointed to the loss of significant heritage sites in recent years, including Kampung Siam in Pulau Tikus and the gravesite of Foo Teng Nyong, the wife of historical figure Kapitan China Chung Keng Quee, calling them as "irreplaceable." He said the Penang Heritage Trust continued to play an active role in conservation efforts. It participates in the Technical Review Board under the Penang Island City Council and provides input on development proposals within the George Town World Heritage Sate. Sibert said preservation, however, required collaboration among various bodies, not just non-governmental organisations. He said among the recurring challenges were neglected heritage properties and buildings outside protection zones. "Some owners abandon their properties or let them deteriorate to the point of being unsafe. "It's difficult for the local council to manage these cases consistently." Sibert said he believed the state government remained committed to heritage protection, citing the continued support for the George Town World Heritage Incorporated and consultation with Penang Heritage Trust. "Penang's history is a source of pride and tourism appeal. The government knows this. "But as with any administration, there is always room for improvement," he added. The recent demolition has sparked public outcry, but Sibert hoped it would also encourage more people to get involved in heritage preservation.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some military services are pausing their sexual assault training to make sure it fits Trump's new orders
Military units pause training amid compliance reviews with Trump's directives. The pause is also affecting some courses that train troops to help victims of assault. Military sexual assault rates persist, though some services report a decline. President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting government diversity, equity, and inclusion activities and "gender ideology" appear to be throwing a wrench into some military sexual assault prevention education programs. Some units have paused their sexual assault prevention and response, known as SAPR, training efforts amid ongoing reviews of program compliance with Trump's orders. In response to the orders, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent out memos on implementing the president's orders, each referencing relevant training. Destiny Sibert, a Navy spokeswoman, told Business Insider Thursday that "in compliance with OPM guidance, Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), which oversees the Navy SAPR program, has temporarily paused training for SAPR staff." A review of the curriculum is underway to "ensure compliance with recent executive orders," she said. Sibert added that the "necessary revisions will be completed and updated materials will be provided to the sexual assault response workforce soonest." The SAPR training pause does not extend to support services provided to sexual assault victims, Sibert said. "CNIC and the Navy SAPR program are committed to providing quality care, advocacy and support to the Navy community." A spokesperson for the Marine Corps, which falls under the Department of the Navy, told Business Insider that "as of February 4, SAPR-related training was temporarily paused to review and ensure compliance with Executive Orders and directives." Training is expected to resume this week. Neither the White House nor the Army and the Air Force responded to Business Insider's request for comment by time of publication. Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) was created in 2005 to be "DoD's single point of accountability for sexual assault prevention and response policy and program oversight," according to the program's website. The mission is to prevent assault by educating troops, and to provide support to victims. US military personnel are required to receive sexual assault prevention training every year. The training is geared toward various rank blocks— for example, junior enlisted troops receive different education than senior enlisted troops or officers. These annual sexual assault prevention trainings normally last around one hour. US military sexual consent education is often the first time that junior service members receive formal instruction on what constitutes consent, as most states lack consent education in K-12 grade school curricula, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a sexual health and reproductive rights research and policy organization. The people who teach service members about consent are usually other uniformed personnel who have attended a short course to become a "uniformed victim advocate." The UVA position is most often a collateral duty for troops who are also expected to assist victims of sexual assault in the wake of an assault. Such assistance can include liaising with commanders, mental health professionals, and legal services to advocate on behalf of the victim. Military sexual assault rates have remained a persistent problem within the armed forces, though reports last year indicated that rates may be on the decline for the first time in years for some, but not all, military services. Many military assaults are never reported. Read the original article on Business Insider
