Vaccination to begin Feb 24
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme will begin on Wednesday, two days ahead of schedule. It was initially scheduled to roll out on Friday. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would set the ball rolling by being the first to be vaccinated at Klinik Kesihatan Putrajaya after chairing the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Next would be Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah. Khairy said the first batch of 312,390 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would be administered to 271,802 frontliners, 57.3% of whom would comprise medical personnel and the rest non-medical frontliners. He said the first batch of vaccines was to be distributed to 16 vaccine storage centres yesterday – four in Johor, two in Penang, six in Selangor, three in Kuala Lumpur and one in Putrajaya. The remaining Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines would arrive in batches every fortnightly. Khairy also said the government would continue with its two-dose policy under the immunisation programme. The second dose would be administered 21 days after the first one. The programme will involve the immunisation of 70% of the population under three phases. (The Star Online)
New PPR projects to be known as ‘Rumah Malaysia’, says Zuraida
The People’s Housing Project (PPR) which commences this year will be known as “Rumah Malaysia”, as part of policy reform carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin said the built-up area of Rumah Malaysia would be no less than 900 sq ft and the ministry would also adjust the rental rates throughout the country. Zuraida said various facilities such as playgrounds, community halls and houses of worship must be provided at the Rumah Malaysia projects, besides ensuring the formation of the residents’ committee which would be responsible for the maintenance and security of the residential area. To avoid Rumah Malaysia from becoming unoccupied, the ministry also stipulates that eligible applicants must occupy the houses within three months after the construction project has been completed. Zuraida said this year, a total of 11 Rumah Malaysia projects comprising 4,120 units would be built nationwide, of which three are located in Johor, namely Kluang, Sembrong and Pengerang. (The Edge)
Kuantan is officially a city
From humble beginnings, Kuantan has come a long way to become a beacon of the east coast. The former tiny hamlet has officially been proclaimed as a city yesterday (21 Feb) by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Kuantan will thus be the first in Pahang and the 18th in the country to be accorded city status. It is known as a major trade, commerce, tourism and transportation hub today and the greater region of the city centre can be traced back to settlements set up more than a century ago. Historical records showed that Kuantan existed since the early 1850s, beginning as settlements at the river mouth and was initially known as Kampung Teruntum. The proclaimation will ensure economic growth which will be enjoyed by its population as well as those in the outskirts and neighbouring districts, said Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Apart from that, facilities such as road infrastructure, telecommunications and transportation would be enhanced to meet the current needs and increase of the population. (The Star Online)
Income tax e-filing for 2020 starts March 1
The submission of the Income Tax Return Form for 2020 via e-Filing for forms E, BE, B, M, BT, MT, TF and TP will begin on March 1. The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) said the e-Filing system could be accessed via the IRB’s official website at www.hasil.gov.my > MyTax > ezHasil Services > e-Filing. It said first time users are required to obtain the PIN number at IRB’s branches or by filling in the Feedback Form on its website. It also urged taxpayers to submit their return form and pay the income tax via the stipulated time to avoid any penalty. The IRB expected to receive up to 530,000 E forms from registered employers, and around 3.27 million BE, B, BT, M and MT forms from individuals with Monthly Tax Deduction and CP500 instalments. Taxpayers could refer to the Return Form Filing Programme for the year 2021 as guidance in filling in their tax return forms. (The Star Online)
Mah Sing to develop affordable landed property project valued at RM656m
Mah Sing Group Bhd has unveiled a new development project on a 100-acre land in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, primarily comprising of affordable homes with an estimated GDV of RM656 million. The project – M Senyum, will be a residential landed project with mainly double story terrace houses starting at RM399,000. The group projected the development to augur well with its quick turnaround strategy as it will meet market demand from first home buyers and upgraders from nearby townships. It pointed out that the project is also in line with the demand for affordable landed homes that is sought after by Malaysians at the moment. Mah Sing revealed that it is its first land deal for the year and it will continue to seek more land that fits its business model with a focus on the Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley area. (The Sun Daily)
