DEWAN NEGARA NEWS IN BRIEF: DEC 8

NO TRUST FUND, MICROFINANCE SCHEME PLANS FOR ORANG ASLI YOUTH - JAKOA 

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) has no plans to set up a trust fund or microfinance scheme for Orang Asli youth specifically for education and business. 

Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) Datuk Rubiah Wang said, however, that the government remains committed to empowering the community through the Orang Asli Business Empowerment Programme (PERKASA) under the 13th Malaysia Plan. 

"This programme will provide interest-free, non-repayable grants for equipment and premises, targeting various groups including youth, women and cooperatives.

"Key initiatives include the Young Entrepreneurs programme with grants of up to RM10,000, the Entrepreneur Expansion and Women Entrepreneurs programme with a maximum assistance of RM35,000, as well as Cooperative Grants of up to RM300,000 for economic projects and business premises construction," she said.

She was responding to a question from Senator Manolan Mohamad, who asked whether the government planned to establish such a trust fund or microfinance scheme, during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

-- BERNAMA 

GOVT USING PH JKR TO ASSESS CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN ROAD PROJECTS  

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government is using the Public Works Department's Green Rating (PH JKR) to assess climate resilience in road projects, particularly those valued at RM50 million and above.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the government also consistently encourages cross-ministry cooperation to implement Value Engineering and Value Assessment initiatives.

“An example of this is the newly-opened southbound Rest and Service (R&R) area on the North-South Expressway (PLUS) in Seremban, which was officially launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“The project holds a Green Building Index certification. It features solar power, a rainwater harvesting system, electric vehicle charging stations, landscaped walkways, covered pathways, and an efficient ventilation system,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Senator Michael Mujah Lihan regarding the standards used to assess climate resilience in new projects and the maintenance of existing roads, as well as the adoption of best practices in national highway upgrades.

-- BERNAMA 

MOT, KKR TO DISCUSS INCREASING LORRY LOAD LIMITS IN SARAWAK

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Ministry of Transport (MOT) will hold discussions with the Public Works Department (JKR) and Ministry of Works (KKR) on a proposal to increase the lorry load limit for Sarawak's federal roads and devolve administrative authority to the Borneo states.

Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said the first discussion will take place this afternoon. 

"This applies only to the now-complete Sarawak section from Kuching to Miri, not to Sabah, where the highway is still not finished," he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew regarding the proposal to raise the lorry weight limit in Sarawak in line with Peninsular practices, as well as the possibility of devolving road administration to the Borneo states to allow for better management.

-- BERNAMA

WABCORE TECHNOLOGY BEING STUDIED TO TACKLE COASTAL EROSION 

KUALA LUMPUR -- The potential of Wave Breaker And Coral Restorer (WABCORE) technology, which can reduce wave energy by up to 60 percent depending on local conditions, is being studied as a new approach to tackling coastal erosion.

Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, said WABCORE is a submerged breakwater structure that also functions as an artificial reef. It has proven effective through studies conducted by the National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM).

“Its effectiveness was demonstrated by a pilot project in Seberang Perai Utara, Penang, which showed a reduction in erosion and shoreline accretion of up to 30 percent over five years, as well as enhanced fishery yields. 

"Installation at Pulau Tinggi, Johor, also found that 40 percent of the structure's surface was colonised by coral within five years," he replied, Senator Che Alias Hamid, who asked about the technology's potential to address coastal erosion in Terengganu.

He added that the same technology was tested at Pantai Rhu Muda, Marang, in 2018. However, part of the structure was damaged during the Northeast Monsoon, and the design is currently being refined to improve its resilience.

-- BERNAMA