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Malaysian Paper

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Kinabatangan, Lamag by-elections set for Jan 24

and its agencies remain on standby to provide support, including through the establishment of the Madani Ehsan Squad and a disaster fund managed by the ministry. Regarding media practitioners, he explained that the Tabung Kasih @Hawana fund under the ministry is sufficient to assist journalists or their families affected by disasters, adding that adequate resources are in place to support those in need. Fahmi also noted that several individuals affected by recent floods have been identified, although the final number is still being updated. He added that the ministry has received donations of relief items and has requested that distribution take place in the first quarter of next year, with plans to begin a relief delivery tour as early as January. – Bernama Fisheries Dept steps up aid to support fish farmers during monsoon PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Fisheries is providing various forms of assistance to ensure the continuity of fish farming operations during the Northeast Monsoon season and in preparation for next year’s aquaculture cycle. Fisheries director-general Datuk Adnan Hussain said the assistance includes the distribution of livestock inputs, technical advisory services, monitoring of the aquaculture environment and mitigation measures against harmful algal blooms and fish diseases through the Fisheries Research Institute. “The implementation of the Aquaculture Breeding and Seed Development Plan through the Nucleus Breeding Centre and the Master Multiplier Centre has produced more than five billion seeds annually, with an estimated production value of around RM690 million, involving 490 private hatcheries and nurseries. “This ensures a high-quality and resilient seed supply in the face of climate change challenges,” he said in a statement. Adnan said Geographic Information System technology through MyDOFGiS and the Early Warning System are also being used to provide accurate and timely information to farmers, allowing preventive measures to be taken earlier. “These measures also enable farmers to adjust their operations, including cage management, seed stocking rates, feeding practices and water management, to minimise the impact of disasters,” he said. He added that the integrated assistance reflects the government’s continuous efforts to support aquaculture farmers affected by flooding and to ensure operational continuity ahead of the next farming round. “We understand the challenges faced by farmers due to the floods during the 2024 and 2025 Northeast Monsoon seasons. Through this integrated assistance under the Agricultural Disaster Fund, the government is working to ensure farmers can quickly restore operations and prepare for the 2026 farming cycle,” he said. The assistance will be channelled in accordance with procedures set by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to reduce losses while safeguarding income and well-being within the fishing community. He added that the department has assured that every approved farmer will receive assistance once all conditions are met, enabling them to continue aquaculture activities next year. During the 2024 and 2025 monsoon seasons, 594 aquaculture farmers received assistance amounting to RM7.9 million through the Agricultural Disaster Fund. – Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: The Election Commission (EC) has set Jan 24, 2026 as polling day for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections in Sabah. EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said the nomination day and early voting are scheduled for Jan 10 and Jan 20 respectively. He said this at a press conference after chairing a special meeting at Menara SPR yesterday to discuss important dates for the by-elections. The seats became vacant following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Dec 5. Ramlan said the electoral roll comprises 48,722 voters, including 48,526 ordinary voters o Nomination day on Jan 10 with 48,722 voters involved: EC chairman More train services for Southern, East coast sectors KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) will introduce additional train services for the southern and east coast sectors from Jan 1 to enhance capacity, connectivity and travel comfort. In a statement yesterday, KTMB announced that four Electric Train Service (ETS) trips will be added to the southern sector on the KL Sentral– JB Sentral–KL Sentral route, increasing the total to eight daily services. For the direct JB Sentral–Padang Besar route, two existing Padang Besar–Segamat–Padang Besar services will be extended to JB Sentral, providing seamless direct access from northern Malaysia to Johor Bahru. “This completes the objective of the Gemas– Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project in establishing a continuous rail network linking the northern and southern economic regions,” the statement noted. Meanwhile, two additional services will be introduced on the Shuttle Timuran route between Gemas and Kuala Lipis, bringing the total to six daily services. “The initiative will benefit East Coast passengers, particularly those travelling to Johor Bahru, by allowing them to experience the ETS3 through transit at Gemas station,” it added.

be rich, but each and every one of us deserves to live a better life,” he said. He added that the people’s priorities go beyond political promises and must be reflected in better access to services, economic opportunities and overall quality of life. “Therefore, fulfil the promises that have been made and may you be a passionate leader, a visionary Yang Berhormat and most importantly, a responsible Yang Berhormat. With that, I wish you well in carrying out your duties,” he said, as reported by Bernama. In the 17th Sabah State Election on Nov 29, the late Bung Moktar, 66, retained the Lamag seat with a majority of 153 votes in a six cornered contest. The Lamag state seat was contested for the first time during the 16th Sabah State Election in 2020. In the 10th General Election in November 1999, Bung Moktar won the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and served as the MP for six terms.

and 196 police personnel, adding that the budget for the by-elections is RM10 million. As Sabah prepares for the twin by-election, Sabah State Assembly Deputy Speaker Datuk Al Hambra Juhar reminded all assemblymen that the mandate given by the people must translate into tangible improvements in their daily lives. “What the people want is quality of life, not Gardenia bread,” he said at the start of the state assembly sitting in Kota Kinabalu yesterday, stressing that public support was not merely symbolic but a demand for responsible and diligent leadership. According to him, the people place high expectations on both newly elected and incumbent assemblymen as they play a crucial role in determining the direction of the state’s development. “The people place great hope in all of you because you are responsible for uplifting the lives of the people in your constituencies. There is a saying that goes: not everyone can

KTMB announced that four ETS trips will be added to the southern sector on the KL Sentral-JB Sentral-KL Sentral route. – BERNAMAPIC

Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Tickets will be available via the KITS Style application, KTMB’s official website at www.ktmb.com.my and KTMB kiosk machines. – Bernama

KTMB also announced that ticket sales will open at noon tomorrow for a six-month travel period until May, aimed at meeting passenger demand, especially during public holidays and festive seasons such as Thaipusam, Chinese New

Plans in place to keep networks running during floods PUTRAJAYA: The Communications Ministry remains on high alert ahead of the possibility of major flooding early next year to ensure communication services and network connectivity remain uninterrupted, according to its minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He highlighted that many communication towers were badly affected during the earlier floods, with washed-away bridges and damaged underground cables, which led him to instruct teams to remain on high alert and fully prepared. Speaking in an interview with Bernama, Fahmi said enhanced coordination with allowing for faster team deployment and more effective support from telecommunications providers. Fahmi further explained that site hardening measures have been implemented at

communication towers, including raising the structures of Tenaga Nasional Berhad distribution boards to prevent damage from rising water levels. He cited a recent visit to a tower site in Moyog, Sabah, where floodwaters had previously reached shoulder height and submerged infrastructure and distribution boards. He noted that the boards have since been raised using simple and cost-effective solutions, adding that the ministry is confident similar issues can be avoided in future floods. On welfare assistance, Fahmi said the ministry

He explained that the ministry’s primary focus is on the rapid restoration of communication networks in affected areas, while also providing assistance to those impacted by floods. Fahmi noted that the severe floods which struck several districts in Kelantan earlier this year had offered valuable lessons, prompting stronger preparedness measures, particularly through closer coordination with telecommunications companies and communication tower infrastructure providers.

telecommunications companies would allow for quicker restoration of affected towers once electricity supply and fibre connections are re established. He added that preparedness this year is stronger, especially in ensuring flood-affected towers can be restored swiftly, subject to the availability of power and fibre connectivity. He also noted that temporary relief centres would be equipped with WiFi and, if necessary, Starlink,