07/08/2025

THURSDAY | AUG 7, 2025

2

King arrives in Russia for maiden state visit MOSCOW: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, arrived here for a six-day state visit to Russia.

After concluding his programme in Moscow, His Majesty will travel to Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan for the second segment of the state visit. Sultan Ibrahim, who ascended the federal throne on Jan 31, 2024, is making his maiden state visit to Russia at the invitation of Putin. This visit has been described as historic as it is the first state visit by a Malaysian head of state to Russia since diplomatic relations were established in 1967. This is the fourth state visit by Sultan Ibrahim after his official visits to Singapore, China and Brunei. – Bernama

Sultan Ibrahim then departed for his hotel in Moscow where His Majesty was greeted by staff of the Malaysian embassy and their family members as well as 30 Malaysian students. During the visit, Sultan Ibrahim will be accorded a state welcome ceremony at the Kremlin before holding an official meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attending a state banquet hosted by the president. His Majesty will also visit the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engines Institute as well as the Tochka Kipeniya Technology and Innovation Hub.

attendance, Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin and Malaysian Ambassador to Russia Datuk Cheong Loon Lai. Sultan Ibrahim was also received by Russian Science and Higher Education Minister Valery Falkov and Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry State Protocol Department acting director Georgiy Kuznetsov. The national anthems of both nations were played and His Majesty walked past a guard-of honour, accompanied by Falkov and Kuznetsov, before being greeted by dignitaries from both Malaysia and Russia.

The special aircraft carrying His Majesty touched down at the Vnukovo2 International Airport at 2.20pm (7.20pm Malaysian time) on Tuesday. Present to welcome His Majesty at the airport were Russian Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Alexander Pankin and Russian Ambassador to Malaysia Nayl Latypov. Also present were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin as the minister-in

KL City Hall initiative to

Anwar, accompanied by Wan Azizah and Zaliha, viewing a model of the Residensi Aman Madani project in Bandar Sri Permaisuri at the event yesterday. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

recover millions in unpaid rentals Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur City Hall is intensifying efforts to recover millions in unpaid rent from public housing tenants through a “Task Force on Rental Defaulters” operation, including cutting off water supply to units with prolonged arrears. In a written response to Parliament, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the action complies with Clause 9 of Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s housing rental agreement, which permits the mayor to disconnect water supply for non-payment. “However, City Hall faces challenges as many tenants ignore engagement efforts or fail to follow through with agreed instalment plans, making recovery efforts difficult without their cooperation.” Responding to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun’s query on the RM70 million owed by public housing tenants to Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Zaliha said ongoing initiatives including engagement sessions, enforcement actions, arrears notices and the “Jom Bayar Sewa PA/PPR” campaign have helped reduce arrears by RM1.09 million. “City Hall conducts on-site negotiations and door-to-door visits with portable payment devices. Flexible instalment plans and multiple payment channels, including online options, are also offered.” Zaliha reminded tenants to take responsibility for consistent rent payment to avoid accumulating arrears and the risk of enforcement or eviction. Separately, she said City Hall is implementing integrated measures aligned with its “one house, one parking lot” policy to alleviate traffic congestion and ensure that emergency vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances have access to high-density housing areas. “To ease reliance on private vehicles, City Hall has expanded its free GOKL bus service, now operating 15 routes in 11 parliamentary constituencies with high-frequency intervals, to encourage public transport use, and is enhancing pedestrian infrastructure with more covered walkways.” Zaliha said more than 5,000 CCTVs have been installed in transit areas for public safety, while last-mile connectivity is being improved through the construction of bicycle lanes and multi-storey parking facilities near transit stations. “City Hall has also built 14 multi-storey car parks in People’s Housing Projects and Public Housing areas, with 13 currently operational. New projects will be considered based on actual occupancy data and site suitability.” She said these efforts are aimed at balancing residents’ parking needs with the necessity for emergency access.

‘Madani principles must be reflected in housing projects’ o Urban planning must focus on ensuring access to

“This is what the Madani framework is about – proper planning, not just building for the sake of building.” The Residensi Aman Madani project is part of the government’s broader housing agenda under the Madani initiative, which prioritises affordability, livability and inclusivity. As part of the project, 18 Gerai Penjaja Madani units will also be built to support local entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises. Anwar said small traders and hawker stalls must not be sidelined in favour of large commercial outlets. “About 85% of people in Kuala Lumpur eat at small stalls and warung . Only 15% go to high end restaurants. We’re not against upscale eateries but city planning must reflect the needs of the majority.” He criticised the poor state of many hawker stalls, some with leaking roofs and inadequate amenities. “Our focus can’t just be on gleaming towers. We must also uplift the small businesses that matter to ordinary people. “City planning must be free from corruption and focused on the real needs of the people – food, education, healthcare, transport and public spaces.”

essential facilities, such as education, healthcare, childcare and green spaces, particularly for low-income families: PM

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

proceed in full,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Residensi Aman Madani project in Bandar Sri Permaisuri yesterday. Present were Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Federal Territories Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif. “I’ve directed that kindergartens be incorporated within the building. If they aren’t already planned, this needs to be corrected.” Anwar pointed out that many urban families earning RM2,000 to RM3,000 a month are forced to send their children to distant facilities. To ensure compliance, he has summoned the developer, the Kuala Lumpur mayor and relevant authorities to meet him next Monday with an updated layout. “It won’t take long, just 10 minutes. Show me where the school, the kindergarten, the preschool area and the healthcare facility are.

KUALA LUMPUR: All major housing developments must be aligned with Madani principles and include core public amenities, particularly schools and kindergartens, to ensure that they meet real community needs, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He said proper urban planning must move beyond the construction of buildings and focus on ensuring access to essential facilities, such as education, healthcare, childcare and green spaces, particularly for low-income families. He added that projects located far from existing schools must allocate a dedicated block for a vertical school, and every new development must include a preschool within the building. “These are clear instructions. If these conditions are not met, the project cannot