Malaysia

Malaysia – According to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), the Environment and Water Ministry (Kasa) has been urged to strengthen the flood warning system by ensuring that the warning sound is louder and distinct from other sirens. It said in a statement yesterday that this was one of the key conclusions reached at a special meeting of the Post-Northeast Monsoon …

Malaysia – Under the current government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Malaysia may once again have a deputy prime minister. According to a report which cited an unidentified source, Ismail Sabri met with his predecessor and Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin the other day in order to discuss the situation and may make a statement next …

Malaysia – According to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, five states — Kelantan, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Terengganu, and Perak — have reached 100% distribution of Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) to heads of families impacted by the recent floods. The prime minister remarked that the BWI (compassionate assistance) payments in Negri Sembilan have reached 82.7 percent, Pahang (65.5 percent), …

Malaysia – The state administration of Melaka will establish a Melaka youth legislative assembly, as promised in the Barisan Nasional campaign for the state election held earlier this year. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the initiative was intended to encourage young people to participate in channeling thoughts and opinions in order to enhance the efficiency of the …

Malaysia – When compared to yesterday, the number of flood refugees seeking shelter in relief centers (PPS) in Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, and Sabah increased this morning. According to the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat in Pahang, 2,188 flood casualties were recorded at 51 PPS across eight districts. The second wave of floods has claimed the lives of 1,421 …

Malaysia – Under the current Sarawak state Cabinet, Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak chairman Chong Chieng Jen claims there is a “unprecedented concentration of power” in the hands of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. The Padungan assemblyman stated in a statement that Abang Johari’s consolidation of power significantly beyond that of previous chief minister Tun …

Malaysia – The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has distributed funds amounting to RM500 in the form of cash payouts to 104 military soldiers, which includes 26 civilian staff members, who had their families impacted by floods that devastated the Batu Tiga Camp in Temerloh, Pahang, earlier this month. Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, a senior defence minister, said the donation was in …

Malaysia – Pro tem president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman announced that the Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (Muda) has been officially registered as a political party. The Muar MP claimed Muda was informed of its registration by email and formal letter on December 23, but because they had been busy with flood rescue work, the announcement has just been made. …

Malaysia – Federal Opposition members demanded that a special committee be formed immediately to probe the government’s flood management and that its conclusions be debated in Parliament. The 77 MPs, headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also called on the government to implement more climate-conscious measures, such as a national adaptation plan and stronger punishments for those who break environmental …

Malaysia – The low attendance of Chinese voters in Sarawak’s urban constituencies, according to Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen, was the major reason for the party’s dismal performance in the 2014 state election. He went on to say that this was due to their frustration with the former federal administration of Pakatan Harapan (PH). At urban voting centers with …