Fire Dept: Not wrong to build houses without windows
It is not wrong in terms of safety to construct houses without windows, as long as private homeowners know how to operate a fire safety system and do not carry out dangerous activities or store gas in the house. Perlis Fire and Rescue Department director, Ruhisya Haris said that according to the Uniform Building By-Laws, 1984 (UBBL) does not provide any relevant clauses for doors and windows, garden houses and so on. Bernama had reported on a unique property belonging to an electrical contractor who renovated his home by removing all the windows of his house in Taman Koperasi near here, after being burgled several times in 2017. The house has only two doors, the front door and the back door. (Malay Mail)
Zuraida: Local authorities required to review taxes every five years
All 155 local authorities (PBT) nationwide are required to review taxes under their respective jurisdictions every five years, beginning next year as provided by the Local Government Act 1976. Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said it was necessary to ensure a uniformed tax collection across the board as some of the PBT had not reviewed its taxes for over 20 years. The review is in line with the increase of services offered by the PBT along with population growth, she said. At the same time, Zuraida wanted PBT to ensure that the increment would not burden the people. (Malay Mail)
Selangor takeover of Highland Towers land up for approval on Jan 8
The Selangor government’s takeover of the Highland Towers condominium site will be completed on Jan 8, according to Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin. She was quoted as saying that the latest update was based on her communications with Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari. Amirudin, who is also chairperson of the Selangor Economic Action Council, was previously quoted as saying that the Highland Towers land acquisition process could not be completed this year. He reportedly said the state government was still in the process of reviewing several related documents and that Zuraida’s proposal for the redevelopment of a recreational park could only begin next year. (Malaysiakini)
‘Malaysia needs to prepare for ageing population’
As Malaysia is expected to be an ageing nation by 2030, the country must prepare itself to assist the elderly, Alliance For a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said. Lee said the rising ageing population would have implications in areas such as healthcare, financial services, city planning and social services. Lee said action must be taken to look into loneliness and other mental health issues among the elderly as there was a possibility of children abandoning their elderly parents. This, he said, could affect their parents’ emotional wellbeing, causing depression and, subsequently, trigger senility or dementia. He added that the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society (MHAS) had proposed that the government consider having a separate ministry or division to focus on the ageing population. According to data from the United Nations (UN), Lee said, the average person can expect to live to the age 72.6. The UN estimated that there would be 2.1 billion people aged 60 and above by 2050, out of a projected total population of 9.7 billion. (NST Online)
TNG, Boost, Grab selected for e-Tunai Rakyat
Khazanah Nasional Bhd today announced that leading e-wallet service providers Touch ‘n Go eWallet, Boost and GrabPay, have been selected to participate in the Federal Government’s RM450 million e-Tunai Rakyat initiative. The three e-wallet service providers are among Malaysia’s largest, and collectively provide a ready platform for the programme, which is scheduled to be launched on Jan 15. Malaysians 18 years of age and above and who earn less than RM100,000 annually will be eligible to receive RM30 each through any of the participating e-wallets. Users can use the RM30 e-credit to purchase goods and services available through the e-wallet of their choice for the duration of the programme, which runs from Jan 15 to March 14, 2020. (Malaysiakini)
