8 December 2021: RWKM to provide 80,000 affordable homes; Thai-Malaysia border reopening considered

Residensi Wilayah Keluarga Malaysia to provide 80,000 affordable housing units within 10 years

The Residensi Wilayah Keluarga Malaysia (RWKM) initiative targets to provide 80,000 affordable housing units within 10 years, or 8,000 units a year, until 2028, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced. The prime minister said he had asked the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry and its agencies to ensure that the target is achieved by means of cooperation with private developers as it is crucial for the wellbeing of Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family). “In line with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 and Agenda 2030, the government is committed to providing affordable and comfortable housing to all segments of the Malaysian Family, including those from the middle-income or M40 group,” he said. Ismail Sabri said the RWKM initiative focuses on areas undergoing rapid development, despite having to face the challenge of rising property values. “This is aimed at realising the aspirations of FT dwellers to own a comfortable house in a conducive environment, and most importantly, at a price that is reasonable and affordable,” he said. (Malay Mail)

Thailand to consider opening Thai-Malaysia border

Thailand will consider reopening the Thai-Malaysia border as proposed by parliament members from the southern region. Its Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s forward command dealing with Covid-19 in the southern region is expected to discuss and make a decision on the matter this week. Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said the government intended to reopen the Thai-Malaysian border and the CCSA had earlier met on Nov 26 to assess the Covid-19 situation in five southern provinces of Songkhla, Satun, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani, with plans to reopen border checkpoints on Dec 16. However, after Malaysia detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, they were now monitoring the situation in Malaysia, she said. The reopening of the border is expected to revive local tourism and boost economic growth in the southern region, she added. (NST Online)

TAED project will go ahead with new concept and master plan

The Sabah government will redevelop the controversial Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) with a new concept and master plan. Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the redevelopment comprises the construction of hotels and resorts, residential and commercial areas equipped with public parks and recreational areas. “When completed, TAED will be one of the international standard tourism destinations and will promote a vibrant lifestyle, especially for Kota Kinabalu and Sabah in general,” he said. At the same time, Hajiji said the TAED development would upgrade Tanjung Aru beach by maintaining its natural beauty and ensuring the viability of the commercial centres. As for the famous Prince Philip Park, which has been around since 1970s, it will not only be maintained, but the beach will be further expanded. “The small and medium traders will be given priority in this area to provide quality services of international standard,” said Hajiji. (NST Online)

Customs will not enforce licence requirement for alcohol sales at eateries

The Finance Ministry has directed the Customs Department to cancel its directive to enforce liquor licence requirements for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. The Transport Minister said he had spoken to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who is currently in Singapore. Dr Wee noted that he and Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Lim Ban Hong had immediately tackled this issue after Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors Association president Wong Teu Hoon approached them about it. It was reported that the Customs Department had required coffee shops and restaurants nationwide to apply for liquor licences starting next year. This directive was met with criticism as it increased the financial burden on coffee shop and restaurant operators already suffering from the affects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Wee pointed out that Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-religious country where non-Muslims have the right to drink alcohol, which should be respected. (The Star)

Malaysia, Indonesia agree on ‘One Maid, One Task’

Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to implement the concept of ‘one maid-one task’, stating that an Indonesian domestic servant can work in a household of no more than six family members, says the Ministry of Human Resources. The Ministry said the agreement was reached at a meeting between Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan and his counterpart Ida Fauziy in Indonesia. In this regard, the Malaysia-Indonesia Technical Committee Meeting on the Memorandum of Understanding on Recruitment and Placement of Indonesian Domestic Workers (MoU PDI) will be held on Dec 14 to finalise details of the matter, and enable both parties to reach an agreement so that the MoU PDI can be signed as early as January 2022. The Ministry statement issued in conjunction with Saravanan’s meeting with the Indonesian Minister of Manpower said the issue of the ‘One-Channel System’ had also been agreed between the two ministers to enable effective monitoring of PDI’s maid entry into Malaysia. (The Star)

Descendants of Johor’s ‘Father of City Planning’ file faraid claim for RM300bil

The descendants of Johor’s famed 19th century dignitary Datuk Muhammad Salleh Perang, dubbed Johor’s “Father of City Planning”, today filed a notice of application to obtain a faraid (the distribution of a deceased property under Islamic law) order for the deceased’s estate worth more than RM300 billion at the Johor Baru Syariah Court. A total of eleven descendants of Johor’s Datuk Bentara Luar — responsible for the planning and development of the southern state — signed the appeal for the whopping sum that has spanned seven generations. According to their lawyer, Norhanisah Johar, the application was only made because her party was still in the process of examining the estate belonging to Mohammed Salleh, which was entitled to be handed over to his rightful heirs. “At present, the heirs of the deceased have reached seven generations involving more than 4,000 people with the death register involving the heirs recorded at 462 people,” she said. Previously in 2019, the same group made headlines after they demanded RM300 billion worth of property which they claimed was owed to them by the Johor government. (Malay Mail)