No disciplinary action against Ahmad Faizal, says Dr M

PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come to the defence of Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

PUTRAJAYA: No disciplinary action will be taken against Perak PPBM chief and menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu over his controversial claim of his “lone battle” with certain factions in DAP in the state, party chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

He went on to defend Faizal, saying that Faizal’s comment was made while he was explaining to “very aggressive fishermen” at a ceramah who had the perceptions that the DAP was in control of Pakatan Harapan.

“So he explained that while he was only one person (from PPBM) in the Perak administration, and while the rest were from the DAP, he was still the menteri besar and was in charge of the state,” Mahathir told reporters after chairing the party’s supreme council meeting here.

In a video, which made its rounds on social media recently, Faizal was seen discussing with a group of people about how he had to face DAP on several issues, including Malay land.

He also said he was thankful that some “friends in Umno” did not reprimand him in his efforts.

Faizal has since said that his comments — which received condemnation from DAP and PKR leaders — had been taken out of context.

MORE TO COME

Guan Eng: 22 schools in Bagan parliamentary constituency to undergo refurbishment


Finance Minister and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng said the refurbishment involved national primary and secondary schools as well as national-type schools that were classified as dilapidated in the constituency.. — Picture by Choo Choy May
Finance Minister and Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng said the refurbishment involved national primary and secondary schools as well as national-type schools that were classified as dilapidated in the constituency.. — Picture by Choo Choy May

BUTTERWORTH, Nov 11 — Twenty-two schools in the Bagan parliamentary constituency here will be refurbished within a five-year period from last year involving an estimated allocation of RM10 million.

Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng said the refurbishment involved national primary and secondary schools as well as national-type schools that were classified as dilapidated in the constituency.

“At the moment, five schools have been refurbished, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bagan Jermal, SK Sungai Puyu, SK Bagan Tuan Kechil, SK Mak Mandin and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Mak Mandin,” he told reporters after observing upgrading works of SK Bagan Jermal infrastructure here today.

A total of RM228,800 has been allocated to repair the roof of SK Bagan Jermal and upgrade its toilets as well as the ablution area.

Lim who is also Finance Minister said all contractors involved in the refurbishment works were appointed through an open tender process.

Meanwhile, he said the federal government would also focus on repairing dilapidated schools nationwide to ensure comfort and safety of students as well as teachers. — Bernama

AirAsia stops cigarette sales on board and online effective today


AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes (fifth right) and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (fourth left) during the launch of AirAsia No Smoking and Dengue Awareness Campaign in Sepang November 11, 2019. — Bernama pic
AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes (fifth right) and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dzulkefly Ahmad (fourth left) during the launch of AirAsia No Smoking and Dengue Awareness Campaign in Sepang November 11, 2019. — Bernama pic

SEPANG, Nov 11 — Effective today, AirAsia has ceased the sale of duty free cigarettes on board as well as on its website, said AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandes.

Speaking at the launch of AirAsia No Smoking and Dengue Awareness Campaign at RedQ here today, he said the airline has implemented a company wide smoke— and vape-free environment at 120 offices and stations across Asia Pacific while RedQ, the airline’s headquarters, is now a 100 per cent smoke-free building.

Speaking in a media conference later, Fernandes said tobacco sales generated RM9 million in revenue to AirAsia group annually.

“AirAsia is also looking at stopping the sales of other products such as alcohol. It is going to be a bit tricky, but we are not rushing it. There is no time frame for that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said AirAsia becomes the first airline in the country to implement such policies.

Speaking at the event, he said the ministry will present the Blue Ribbon Campaign’s Outstanding Achievement Award to Fernandes for his AirAsia’s anti-smoking campaign during the Blue Ribbon Campaign awards presentation ceremony on Nov 22.

According to Dr Dzulkefly, some 23 per cent of Malaysians are smokers and about 20,000 deaths due to smoking-related diseases are recorded annually. — Bernama

Iraqis struggle to keep up protests after deadly crackdown

IRAQI protesters struggled to keep up their anti-government sit-ins today following a deadly crackdown by security forces that Amnesty International warned could turn into a “bloodbath.’‘

Seven protesters died yesterday in Baghdad and the southern city of Basra in the latest violence to hit the wave of popular protests that have shaken the country since early October.

Romania votes for president with liberal incumbent favoured

ROMANIA voted in the first round of a presidential election today, with pro-European incumbent Klaus Iohannis the favourite to win, potentially adding to a liberal fightback against the region’s prevailing nationalism.

Iohannis of the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL) repeatedly clashed with the beleaguered government of the left-wing Social Democrat (PSD) party, which collapsed last month.

24 reports on Tg Piai election, three being investigated

JOHOR BAHRU: A total of 24 police reports have been lodged regarding the Tanjung Piai by-election but only three investigation papers have been opened, according to Johor police chief Mohd Kamarudin Md Din.

One involved alleged sedition remarks in a statement by agriculture minister Salahuddin Ayub, another involved remarks by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on a court decision in the ‘basikal lajak’ tragedy, and the third was about party flags pulled out around Kebun Kampung Baru Permas.

He said two of the cases had been referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney-General’s Chambers to assist in the investigation.

Mohd Kamaruddin said the police expected that campaign in the by-election would be more aggressive by polling day on Nov 16.

6 sekeluarga maut ditembak dalam perjalanan ke acara Maulidur Rasul

KUALA LUMPUR: Enam sekeluarga termasuk seorang kanak-kanak maut dipercayai ditembak di perairan selatan Filipina, Selasa lepas.

Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah, Omar Mammah ketika dihubungi Bernama mengesahkan perkara itu dan berkata semua mereka dari Pulau Denawan, Semporna di Sabah.

Beliau berkata mereka yang bukan warganegara Malaysia ketika itu dalam perjalanan ke Siasi, selatan Filipina bagi menyambut Maulidur Rasul bersama keluarga di sana.

“Sewaktu perjalanan ke Siasi pada waktu malam, bot yang dinaiki mereka bertembung dengan sebuah bot yang tidak dikenali.

“Berikutan itu, sekumpulan individu yang berada di dalam bot yang tidak dikenali itu menghampiri bot mereka lalu melepaskan tembakan,” katanya.

Omar berkata tembakan itu menyebabkan enam maut manakala dua lagi individu berjaya menyembunyikan diri dan terselamat.

Beliau berkata keluarga mangsa yang berasa bimbang dan curiga kerana mereka belum tiba di destinasi keluar mencari mereka dan menemui sebuah bot hanyut yang dalamnya terdapat enam mayat dan dua individu yang terselamat.

“Keluarga mereka membawa semua mereka ke Pulau Denawan untuk dikebumikan sebelum orang awam mengetahui kejadian itu dan melaporkannya kepada polis,” katanya sambil menambah kesemua mangsa telah dikebumikan pada Jumaat.

Omar berkata orang awam melaporkan kejadian itu di Ibu Pejabat Polis Semporna.

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