17/07/2025

THURSDAY | JULY 17, 2025

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Parking system operator chosen via open tender: MB

Youth and Sports Ministry to hold 10 programmes

GEORGE TOWN: The Youth and Sports Ministry will implement 10 Rakan Muda Turun Kampus programmes later this year. It would involve the participation of at least 5,000 students from every state. In a statement, the ministry said the programme is designed to provide students in institutions of higher learning a platform to share their aspirations, ideas and feedback on youth and sports development directly with the ministry’s leadership. “This initiative reflects the core values of confidence and compassion under the unity government’s Malaysia Madani concept, which prioritises listening to young voices, understanding their needs and encouraging their participation in national development. “Through this programme, the ministry aims to strengthen student identity and unity, foster collaboration between institutions, and gather insights to enhance youth empowerment strategies.” Interactive activities will also be held during the programme, led by the Rakan Muda Development Division under the National Youth and Sports Department. The programme aims to disseminate the latest updates on government policies and initiatives, particularly those related to youth and sports. It provides a platform for youth to express their views on key issues while promoting civic engagement and expanding the Gaya Hidup Rakan Demokrasi initiative within campuses. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh attended the fifth edition of the Rakan Muda Turun Kampus series at Han Chiang University College of Communication on Tuesday. She was accompanied by Penang Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen. – Bernama Religious council addressing poverty KUALA LUMPUR: The Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council has transformed the lives of asnaf groups, by helping them break out of poverty through high-impact education and entrepreneurship programmes. Its CEO Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan said strategic collaboration with institutions of higher learning and private hospitals has enabled asnaf children to be trained in nursing, to allow them to secure permanent employment. “At the end of their studies, they undergo formal training in hospitals and move straight into employment.” He added that more than 70% of the state zakat collection is distributed to the poor and underprivileged, with focus on developing productive capacity. He said the council’s success has been recognised with the receipt of the National Zakat Award under the entrepreneur category, proving the effectiveness of its empowerment programmes in producing self-reliant zakat recipients. He also said the council is leading innovative initiatives in Islamic fund management, such as wakaf -based investments through exchange traded funds and a solar energy wakaf project, which is pending approval. Ahmad Azrin said the council emphasises the importance of an integrated approach to poverty management and is working on data integration between agencies to expedite and streamline the aid distribution process. “We need the cooperation of all parties to address poverty issues.” – Bernama

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has reiterated that the appointment of Rantaian Mesra Sdn Bhd as the operator to handle the implementation of the Smart Intelligent Parking (SIP) system was made through an open tender. He said the appointment of the company by Selangor Menteri Besar (Incorporated) (MBI) was made after a request for proposal was issued and proper evaluation conducted, involving 26 companies. “Upon receiving the applications, MBI conducted a proper verification or screening process and submitted a list of eligible candidates to the state government. “MBI prioritises the state’s interests and does not hand over control in its entirety to any party,” he said after the Selangor Platform Strategic Partner Synergy and Appreciation event on Tuesday. He was addressing concerns raised on the legality of privatising public car parks, including whether privatisation is allowed under the Road Transport Act 1987 as public car parks are under the jurisdiction of the Transport Ministry and local councils are delegated to manage, enforce and collect parking fees under Section 72 of the Act. Previously, the media reported that the SIP system is meant to streamline the parking fee collection system across local authorities to be more systematic and efficient, in line with the Smart Selangor initiative. The first phase, which begins on Aug 1, involves the Petaling Jaya City Council, Subang Jaya City Council, Shah Alam City Council and Selayang Municipal Council. Among the main objectives of the implementation of the system is to raise parking o ‘Selection made after proper evaluation, involving 26 companies’

The first phase involves the Petaling Jaya City Council, Subang Jaya City Council, Shah Alam City Council and Selayang Municipal Council. – SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

State Local Government and Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said parking management through a concessionaire has been in use in Selangor since 1996 and as of June, five local councils still outsource parking management to the concessionaire. He said the concessionaire would invest RM200 million for the SIP infrastructure, including the installation of 1,800 CCTVs in the four local councils involved in the first phase. He explained that the concessionaire was only responsible for system maintenance and payment of staff salaries while all enforcement action, including the issuing of compound notices, would be carried out by local council officers. Ng said the local councils would not bear any operating costs but are expected to receive higher collections.

fee compliance, which is only around 30%, as well as reduce issues such as double parking and lack of enforcement. The collection proceeds would be divided – 40% to local councils, 10% to MBI and 50% to the concessionaire company, which handles parking fee collection and enforcement, Bernama reported. Regarding the percentage of collection, Amirudin said the matter could be discussed again with the concessionaire company and local councils involved, taking into account the high costs incurred by the appointed company in providing facilities, including CCTV. “The percentage of collection could be re-negotiated but it is worth noting that the (tender) process was not a direct negotiation because 26 other companies were evaluated before the selection was made.”

Over 5,600 tonnes shark landings recorded last year PUTRAJAYA: A total of 5,610 tonnes of shark landings have been recorded in Malaysian waters throughout 2024, based on statistics from the Fisheries Department. declared as protected species under the Fisheries (Control of Endangered Species of Fish) (Amendment) Regulations 2019. disrupt the stability of biodiversity, but could also have a direct impact on the well-being of the fishery resources.

He urged all parties, including fishermen, industry players, NGOs and the public to adhere to established regulations and support the conservation efforts being carried out by the government. “The department continues to strengthen conservation initiatives through the implementation of continuous monitoring, law enforcement and public awareness campaigns, with the strategic cooperation of enforcement agencies, NGOs and the fishing community. “These efforts aim to ensure the country’s marine resources remain sustainable for future generations.“ – Bernama

“Any activities of capturing, possessing, selling or exporting these species are prohibited and may be subject to legal action.“ The species listed are Sphyrna mokarran (great hammerhead), Sphyrna zygaena (smooth hammerhead), Eusphyra blochii (winghead shark), Carcharhinus longimanus (oceanic whitetip shark) and Rhincodon typus (whale shark). According to Adnan, these species play an important role in maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem due to their nature as apex predators in the ecological chain. The loss of these species would not only

Its director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said Sarawak recorded the highest landings at 2,208.9 tonnes, followed by Perak at 994.04 tonnes, Kelantan at 783.99 tonnes, Sabah at 545.77 tonnes, Pahang at 471.35 tonnes and Selangor at 204.11 tonnes. Adnan said the statistics show the need to strengthen the monitoring and management of fishery resources in an integrated manner, particularly to ensure the sustainability of increasingly endangered marine species. “As a step towards sustainable resource management, five species of sharks have been

MCMC to intensify implementation of address framework KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian

contributors as well as improving the app.” He said Malaysia has spent about RM700 million in obtaining location information, which is supplied for government use by external technology providers, Bernama reported. He also said no effort has previously been made to combine the information into one system, leading to inaccurate location information.

“In 2026, the system development for the pilot project will be initiated more aggressively, followed by the formation of the NAS community and data verification from key data contributors in refining the development of the NAS app. “The work in 2027 will be more focused on compiling and verifying the quality of data from

Communications and Multimedia Commission will intensify the implementation of the National Address System (NAS) starting this year until 2027. Its Digital and Geospatial Innovation Division head Ahmad Aswadi Yusof said the move was taken following the implementation of the study phase that was carried out this year.