Merdeka 118 Tower tallest in the region
The Merdeka 118 Tower is set to become the second tallest building in the world after Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the tallest building in South-East Asia. This is following the completion of its spire and the tower which will officially stand at a height of 678.9m. Merdeka 118 will also be the first tower in Malaysia to earn triple platinum ratings with international sustainability certifications, including the highly prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (Leed). The inspiration behind the name Merdeka 118 is its location that is situated near two historic sites, namely Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara, while 118 represents the number of floors in the tower, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. The tower covers more than three million square feet of floor area, comprising 1.66 million square feet of net lettable area (NLA) of Grade-A office space and about one million square feet of retail space. The tower and infrastructure upgrades in its surrounding area are expected to be completed by the end of 2022. (The Star)
Omicron puts endemic phase on hold
Malaysia is putting on hold its transition to the endemic phase of Covid-19 due to uncertainties brought about by the recent emergence of the Omicron variant, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. He said this was decided by the Cabinet after the Covid-19 Quartet Ministers meeting yesterday. He said the Omicron variant was discussed at length at the meeting, adding that another wave of Covid-19 cases could put Malaysia’s pandemic progress at risk. Hishammuddin also said Putrajaya was monitoring countries where Omicron had spread and that the situation was fluid at the moment. He also said the travel ban on seven African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Eswatini – was not based on geopolitics but on health. He added that the government would impose stricter border controls on countries where the new variant was prevalent. (The Star)
Malaysia Green Building Council launches malaysiaGBC Carbon Score
The Malaysia Green Building Council (malaysiaGBC), in conjunction with the World Green Building Council’s Advancing Net Zero project, has announced the launch of the malaysiaGBC Carbon Score (MCS) initiative. The project is a comprehensive assessment protocol designed to measure the carbon footprint of both new and existing Malaysian buildings, as well as to accelerate the decarbonisation of the built environment. The MCS, which is specifically tailored for Malaysian standards and construction practices, applies localised carbon factors to evaluate both the operational and embodied greenhouse gas emissions associated with building construction and occupancy. A further breakdown of the project’s overall carbon footprint is presented based on five subcategories — energy (operational emissions), materials (embodied emissions), transport, waste and emissions offsets. Focused precisely on net zero emissions targets, the MCS is created to add value to the existing Malaysian Green Building Rating Tools. (The Edge)
Kota Belud set for major transformation through Qhazanah Sabah initiative
Kota Belud is set to undergo a transformation from a quiet northern town to a modern and bustling urban centre through a new information and communication technology driven satellite township initiated by Qhazanah Sabah Bhd (QSB). The Sabah state government’s strategic investment arm is teaming up Berjaya Land Bhd (BLand) to develop the Bandar Digital Tun Said township located about 5km from Kota Belud town. State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jaffry Ariffin said the Bandar Digital Tun Said township was not only a catalyst in stimulating economic growth in Sabah’s northern region but also enhancing Kota Belud’s position as a tourism town and in line with the Bira-Biraan Smart City project. He said Kota Belud was becoming a district with an ageing population as youths there sought opportunities in Kota Kinabalu and elsewhere, and thus in need of a stimulus. Apart from being a commercial and residential development, Bandar Digital Tun Said would also provide housing for Kota Belud civil servants who were currently occupying dilapidated government quarters. (The Sun Daily)
Eligible individuals can register on IRB website for Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia from Jan 1
Individuals who feel they are eligible to receive Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia or Malaysian Family Assistance (BKM) can register or update their information from January 1 to 31, said Deputy Finance Minister 1 Mohd Shahar Abdullah. He said the existing recipients of Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) need not apply for BKM as they were eligible to receive the assistance automatically with the first payment expected to be made in March 2022. According to him, the registration process is open to ensure that those who are eligible, but not in the database are given the opportunity to apply and register and update through the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) website. “We have a month for them to do so and more information related to BKM can be found on the IRB website,” he said. (Malay Mail)
Employers must immediately hire foreign workers under RTK programme
Employers have been given two weeks for the placement of 280,088 foreign workers who have been registered under the Labour Recalibration Programme (RTK), said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin. He said the Home Ministry (KDN) had called on the employers concerned to immediately employ the workers who have registered under the RTK programme and listed as legal foreign workers. “I want to see that all of them are employed in our country and issued a valid PLKS (Temporary Employment Visit Pass),” he said. According to Hamzah, of the 280,088 foreign workers who have registered under the RTK programme, over 120,000 are involved in the plantation sector and the number only represents between 20% and 30% of the labour required by the country’s plantation sector. (NST Online)
