The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- RM1.6mil approved for Karak water plant upgrade
- Lahad Datu: Special medal for security forces, govt agencies involved in Ops Daulat, says PM
- Longest underwater cleanup in Sabah makes it into the World Guinness Records
| RM1.6mil approved for Karak water plant upgrade Posted: 13 Apr 2013 06:51 AM PDT BENTONG: A total of RM1.6mil has been approved to improve the water treatment plant in Karak to curb water shortage. "This is a short-term solution to ensure residents of Karak do not face any water disruption," said Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai after meeting residents of Taman Hijau in Karak on Saturday. He said he was aware that the plant built in the 1960s was not able to meet the needs of Karak now. "People here need 1.4 million gallons (5.2 million litres) of water a day but the plant is only able to supply one million gallons (3.7 million litres) a day,'' he said, noting that water from Bentong is being channelled to Karak. Liow said the Government had approved RM2mil to conduct an in-depth study as it wanted to build a new water treatment plant costing RM53mil. "This new plant will be able to supply water for 10 years to come," he added. He said the plant would benefit the people and help further develop Karak. Liow said the study would also determine a suitable and strategic location for the plant. |
| Lahad Datu: Special medal for security forces, govt agencies involved in Ops Daulat, says PM Posted: 13 Apr 2013 06:50 AM PDT LAHAD DATU: The government has agreed to create a special award (medal), Pingat Kedaulatan Negara (PKN), in appreciation of the Malaysian security forces and government agencies involved in Ops Daulat. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the PKN could be given to any individual who served or was directly involved in Ops Daulat, aimed at fighting against the intrusion in Lahad Datu by militants from southern Philippines. "This award is in recognition of the good deeds, bravery, service and sacrifices of members of the security forces as well as public servants involved in Ops Daulat. "Therefore, today I symbolically present the award to some of those involved in the operation," he said in his speech at the Ops Daulat Appreciation ceremony, here, Saturday. On injured members of the security forces in Ops Daulat, Najib said they would each be offered to purchase 50,000 units of Bank Rakyat shares. He said Bank Rakyat had agreed to offer shares worth RM100,000 to each family affected by the tragedy of the Lahad Datu intrusion. "With the dividends paid out by Bank Rakyat at 15 percent per annum and the bonus, each family will receive 15,000 units per annum or RM1,250 per month. "And if they take out a housing loan of RM300,000 to RM400,000, the amount is sufficient to pay for the monthly instalment." Najib said Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia had, meanwhile, given out RM1.5mil worth of aid to the Felda Sahabat land scheme settlers. "For the 26 families who lost their homes or their houses were damaged, the Yayasan 1MDB has allocated RM2mil to assist them," he added. At the event, the Kelab Putera 1Malaysia also gave 9,100 ration packs to be distributed to members of the security forces, Rela and Civil Defence Department. - Bernama |
| Longest underwater cleanup in Sabah makes it into the World Guinness Records Posted: 13 Apr 2013 06:48 AM PDT KINABALU: A new record has been officially set in the World Guinness Records Astro Kasih's longest underwater cleanup in Sabah's Tungku Abdul Rahman marine park which ran for 168 consecutive hours that ended at 8.30am March 13. Local and international divers who successfully completed Astro Kasih's longest underwater cleanup and helped made it into the World Guinness Records with a total of 3,171kg of trash collected were however surprised by the amount of rubbish picked up during the duration. Amazed by the beautiful beaches and rich marine life Sabah sea has to offer, British diver Krystle Stevens said she was proud to be part of the effort which helped clean the sea up, but was saddened by the fact that there were some people who were uninterested in preserving it. "It has been a tiring but fulfilling week as we have finally completed this effort and helped make it into the World Guinness record but I was really saddened to see so much rubbish especially at dive sites near settlements within the Tunku Abdul Rahman marine park," she said. State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said this has been a fact said and documented many times, and would not be improved unless people changed their habits. "Although proud to see Sabah being elevated to the eyes of the world with the record set today, I am still sad to hear that our visitors too feel that we could have done more on our part to help keep our sea clean," he said after witnessing the record from Guinness World Record adjudicator Kirsty Bennet to Astro Chief Executive Officer Datuk Rohana Rozhan on Saturday. A total of 139 divers from all over the world took part in the challenge which lasted for a total of 168 hours and 38 minutes since April 6, whereby participants were required to dive consecutively taking turns from one team to the other picking rubbish without breaking it for a second. A total of 1,526kg of plastics, 140.44kg of glass and ceramics, 318.36kg of metal and 335.84kg of rubber and cloth, among others, were picked up in the attempt. In this respect, Rohana said she chose Sabah as the location for this challenge not only because of the unique and rich natural resources it has, but also because Sabah is the place where she grew up in for the first 10 years of her life. "Sabah is also chosen because it has some of the most beautiful dive sites and because there is so much that we can do here," she said. |
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