Boy confirmed to be first polio case in M’sia in 27 years
A three-month-old Malaysian boy is suffering from polio, the first case in the country since it was declared polio-free almost two decades ago. The baby in Tuaran, Sabah, is now being treated at an isolation ward of a hospital after experiencing fever and weakness of the limbs. The last polio case in Malaysia occurred in 1992. In 2000, the country was declared polio-free. “In an unsanitary environment, the virus can infect others who have not been immunised against polio and will spread in communities whose polio immunisation rates are less than 95%. The longer the virus spreads in the community, it will undergo genetic mutation until it once again becomes an active virus.” Those who have been vaccinated, however, would be protected from infection. (The Star Online)
Developer: Exchange 106 expects 50% occupancy by end-2020
Mulia Property Development Sdn Bhd, the developer of Exchange 106 at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), targets to achieve 50% occupancy rate for the tower by the end of next year. Its general manager Patrick Honan said the company expected to get the full Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) for the whole building in the coming weeks, allowing the tenancy process to proceed smoothly. The lower half of the building is now open for occupation by tenants. The rest of the developments including the TRX Mall will be completed in the next two to three years. Standing at 492 metres, Honan said it is the tallest building in the country and the sixth tallest office building in the world. (Malay Mail)
More land premium revenue if permanent ownerships given to new village
The state government will receive more land premium revenue when new villages in Perak are given permanent ownership status. Dewan Rakyat deputy Speaker Nga Kor Ming said the income could be used to develop the state to benefit all the communities in Perak. “I stress that the permanent ownership is for existing houses and own kampung houses. Don’t forget that when the policy is implemented, the lots in Kampung Tersusun (settlement schemes) will be the most to receive permanent ownership status as most comprise Malay residents,” he said. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the state government could not give a 999 years ownership status or permanent ownership to any new villages. He said the National Land Council (MTN) stipulated the period of lease for the new villages must be at least 60 years but not exceeding 99 years. (Malay Mail)
Govt to build 14 PPR projects nationwide in 2020
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) will be building another 14 people’s housing project (PPR) throughout the country next year. KPKT secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Mentek said out of the total, one PPR with 500 units would be built in Tungku Lahad Datu, Sabah. This is in addition to 40 PPRs involving 27,099 housing units built in Sabah this year including 30 projects with 20,799 PPR units completed, seven PPRs under construction while three more are at planning stage. (Malay Mail)
Tesco mulling sale of Malaysia, Thailand operations
Britain’s biggest retailer, Tesco has signalled a further retreat from its once lofty global ambitions by starting a review of its remaining Asian businesses, which could result in a sale of those Thai and Malaysian operations. Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Tesco is five years into a UK-focused recovery plan launched by chief executive Dave Lewis after an accounting scandal capped a dramatic downturn in trading. The company said the review was at an early stage and gave no details of the approaches received. In 2015 Tesco sold its South Korean arm, followed by the sale of its Kipa business in Turkey. Under its previous management, Tesco made costly exits from Japan, the United States and China. (Malaysiakini)
