07/05/2025

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Housing minister praised for focus on real issues

government were also implemented, with funds of nearly RM45 million, Bernama reported. He also said the Drainage and Irrigation Department identified more than 300 unmanned catchment ponds, which were factors that caused floods to occur due to improper maintenance. Izham said the department is in the process of taking over the ponds and about 55 have been taken over. Airbus, S’wak to collaborate on aerospace roadmap KUCHING: The Sarawak government and leading global aerospace company Airbus have agreed to establish a joint task force to develop a roadmap for the state’s aerospace industry. State Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said establishing the Sarawak-Airbus Joint Task Force aims to combine expertise within the industry through comprehensive collaboration and discussions with specialists to draft the roadmap. “This initiative is expected to serve as a growth catalyst for the aviation industry, opening up new opportunities for the sector’s advancement on an international scale,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit. He added that establishing the joint task force is one of six key areas of strategic cooperation agreed upon by the Sarawak government and Airbus during his official visit to the Airbus Campus and the headquarters of turboprop aircraft manufacturer ATR in Toulouse, France on Monday. Abang Johari said Airbus will also partner with the state government to develop a 40.5ha site in the state as an aerotropolis, which will serve as an integrated hub to support the aviation industry ecosystem. Both parties have agreed to explore the use of sustainable aviation fuel, which is being actively developed in Sarawak. He said Airbus has agreed to collaborate with local institutions in the state, such as ICATS University College, to develop aerospace-related training programmes and curricula aiming to nurture skilled human capital for the aerospace industry. He added that in building the aerospace support industry ecosystem, Airbus would assist Sarawak in exploring the potential for manufacturing composite materials and gas-based synthetic leather, as well as avionics and instrumentation technologies based on artificial intelligence. The agreed collaboration would include developing digital journey systems and flight services designed to integrate travel arrangements into a single digital package. – Bernama

Ű BY T. C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

o Leadership of Nga marks shift away from divisive racial narratives and towards practical solutions: Bukit Bendera MP

said the matter would be subject to legal and procedural reviews by state authorities. “At this point, the broader framework is being discussed and any legal enablers would likely be addressed as implementation planning evolves.” She also stressed the importance of securing bipartisan support for the Act as improving housing and quality of life should transcend political lines and benefit the people as a whole. “When people are living in rundown conditions, politics should not get in the way of doing what is right.” The Act proposed in Malaysia requires 80% approval from residents for urban renewal projects, involving buildings less than 30 years old. This threshold is lower than the current 100% required for en bloc sales under the Strata Titles Act 1985. The Urban Renewal Act also proposes a 75% threshold for buildings over 30 years old and a 51% threshold for buildings deemed unsafe or abandoned. The Bill is expected to be debated in Parliament during the session starting at the end of June.

GEORGE TOWN: Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid has lauded Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming for his steadfast commitment to addressing real, cross-cutting issues, such as housing, public safety and urban livability, amidst discussions around the Urban Renewal Act. She said Nga’s leadership marks a shift away from divisive racial narratives and towards practical solutions that benefit all Malaysians. “I believe that things such as livability and safety matter to everyone, no matter who you are or where you come from. “When leaders such as Nga focus on real issues that people face every day, it is a good sign. It shows a shift towards solutions that actually make a difference on the ground. “People just want to live in safe, clean and decent environments.” She said Nga’s type of leadership, which she described as calm, focused and clear, is crucial in rebuilding public trust and addressing the needs of the people, closed for airshow ALOR SETAR: The Civil Aviation Authority has announced a temporary closure of the Langkawi airspace in conjunction with the upcoming Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) Exhibition. It said the closure would occur in stages, beginning with airshow exercises from May 6 to 14, conducted for 45 minutes at times deemed suitable by its Langkawi management. From May 15 to 19, exercises will take place from 8.30am to 9.15am and 12pm to 2.30pm. The actual airshows will be held from May 20 to 24 with this schedule: 0 May 20: 8.30am–9.15am and 12pm–2.30pm 0 May 21–22: 12.30pm–2.30pm 0 May 23–24: 10am–12pm and 2.30pm–4.30pm Earlier, the Air Force in a statement said its aircraft would conduct flight Langkawi airspace to be

leaders are willing to revisit issues that have been stuck for far too long,” she said. When asked about the expected timeline for the regeneration of Rifle Range, she acknowledged that large-scale urban renewal projects do not happen overnight. She said there is a lot that needs to be done, such as planning, community consultations, technical studies and coordination across agencies. “If we are being realistic, the full transformation might only be completed when I am well into my 70s. “But that is okay. What matters is that we start now and do it right. The benefits down the line will be worth the effort, even if we do not see all the results immediately,” she said. On whether Penang would need to enact further legislation to streamline with the Act, Syerleena

and should be encouraged. She added that what matters most are actions that reflect fairness. “The focus should remain on policy delivery and measurable improvements to people’s lives, which speak louder than rhetoric and help ground the conversation in facts. “Less talk, more action. Results always speak louder than slogans. “Urban renewal is not easy. It involves many layers of government and a lot of coordination but what really matters is follow-through. “Promises are a start but people want to see real progress, not just headlines,” she said. Syerleena said in Penang, for example, the half-a-century-old Rifle Range has been stuck in limbo due to long-standing delays and bureaucratic red tape. “It is always encouraging when

Lima features one of the largest exhibitions in the maritime and aerospace industry in Southeast Asia. – BERNAMAPIC

from May 20 to 24,” it said. Themed “Today’s Progress, Future Achievements”, the exhibition in Langkawi remains one of the largest exhibitions in the maritime and aerospace industry in Southeast Asia since it was first organised in 1991. – Bernama

Phase Two begins from May 14 to 19 in the airspace of Langkawi in Kedah. “The implementation of this exercise aims to strengthen the readiness and efficiency of the Air Force crew in providing the best performance for the opening and air show for the exhibition scheduled

trainings in conjunction with the exhibition starting yesterday. It said the flight exercise would involve fighter jets, carriers and helicopters over two phases, namely Phase One from yesterday to May 13 in the airspace of Alor Setar in Kedah and Butterworth in Penang while

17 urgent projects to overcome flash floods in Klang KLANG: The Selangor government has identified 17 urgent projects that need to be implemented in the administrative area of the Royal Klang City Council in an effort to overcome the problem of continuous flooding in the area. State Infrastructure and implemented include drain widening works, installation of culverts for waterways, upgrading bridges involving village areas and pocket development. brought to the Selangor Economic Action Meeting within two weeks from now. There are several projects involving the implementation of state government policies.”

and Irrigation Department in collaboration with several other agencies, including the city council and the Public Works Department. He said the projects are an effort by the state government to reduce flood incidents while waiting for the Flood Mitigation Plan in the Klang area to be completed. He added that 15 medium and long-term flood mitigation projects involving the federal

He was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting to discuss infrastructure progress for the city council’s supervised areas at its headquarters on Monday. Izham said the projects would be coordinated by the Selangor Drainage

“Some of these projects will be started as early as this week and are expected to be completed by October, with an estimated RM3 million allocated for the implementation of the projects. “The implementation will be

Agriculture exco Datuk Izham Hashim said the projects would be implemented in 13 hotspots. He said the projects to be