KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — A Malaysian property developer has filed for arbitration against the Republic of Maldives over an alleged breach of contract, amounting to nearly US$30 million (RM124 million) of arrears for a project in the Hulhumalé reclaimed island there.

WZR Property Sdn Bhd group chairman Datuk Sazmi Miah told Malay Mail that his company filed the arbitration yesterday at the Asian International Arbitration Centre, which will then appoint professionals to handle the case.

He explained that on September 10, 2015, WZR Property was invited to submit its proposal along with six other international companies to develop a 25-storey office complex by the republic’s Ministry of Finance and Treasury.

WZR Property won the bid and was then awarded the contract on February 1, 2016, with the project amounting to nearly US$123 million (RM514 million).

The contract agreement was subsequently signed between the Maldives government and WZR Property on March 1, 2016.

The novation agreement was then signed by said ministry, its government-linked company Housing Development Corporation Limited, and WZR Property on March 7, 2017.

However, WZR Property claims that it had not received a single sen of the payment despite the fact that it has already completed 20 per cent of the total work, and 60 per cent of the pilings for the structure.

“What happened is that when they changed to the new government some time last year … they have been shifting the goal posts in terms of whether they wanted to continue with the project or not,” said Sazmi, who is also the Kelantan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy chief.

“The agreement was signed with the previous government, the new government is kind of reluctant to continue. And our outstanding claim of US$29 million wasn’t being entertained.

“We have written them letters, went through our diplomatic channels through Wisma Putra to get them to reply to us and so on but there’s no effort from them except for several meetings with them but there was nothing in black and white whether they are continuing or not,” he added.

The archipelago nation’s presidential election was held in September 23 last year, and saw incumbent president Abdulla Yameen of the Progressive Party of Maldives being defeated by Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, of the Maldivian Democratic Party, who represented the opposition coalition.

Sazmi now claims that the new Maldives administration is trying to buy time by behaving in a non-committal manner, ignoring his numerous letters to the president, its Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer, and Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid.

He said the only high-profile meeting that was afforded to his team was with one of its two deputy finance ministers, Mohamed Firzul Hussain Firaz, and its High Commissioner to Malaysia Visam Ali.

When contacted by Malay Mail, Visam refused to comment and said that her government “has been in consultation and negotiation with the company”.

She added that anything she says will further “hinder the process”.

Sazmi claimed WZR should be compensated with an additional US$30-40 million, on top of the US$29 million owed, if the Maldives government decides cancel the project outright.

“We expect them to honour the contract, to see these things through no matter if you change the government; you still honour the contract and whatever that have been done with the previous government.

“We hope that they will take this matter seriously, as it involves our livelihoods, our good relations,” Sazmi said.

Baru-baru ini tular kisah konflik rumah tangga seorang artis, Lutfyah Sheikh Omar atau lebih dikenali dengan panggilan Lufya dengan suaminya yang merupakan seorang doktor iaitu Dr Che Muhammad Hafiz Che Baharum.

Kemelut rumah tangga pasangan ini menjadi perhatian warganet apabila Lufya berkongsi di laman Instagramnya mengenai sikap suaminya yang mengabaikan tanggungjawab terhadap keluarga.

Paling terbaru mengenai kisah penceraian mereka melalui aplikasi WhatsApp.

Dalam masa yang sama, satu lagi kisah rumah tangga artis, Nadya Syahera dan suaminya yang merupakan seorang usahawan, Fizul Nawi turut menjadi topik “membawang” warganet apabila Nadya pernah membuat pendedahan mengenai kecurangan suaminya.

Konflik rumah tangga pasangan ini semakin hangat diperkatakan apabila suami Nadya meminta pandangan netizen berkaitan perihal rumah tangga mereka melalui kaedah undian menerusi media sosial, Instastory.

Tumpuan individu sekeliling

Itu baru kisah pasal artis, individu yang dikenali umum, “public figure” tentulah menjadi perhatian ramai.

Tapi bagaimana pula kalau perihal kisah “orang-orang” biasa seperti kita yang berkongsi masalah di media sosial? Masih ada ke individu lain yang berminat untuk ambil tahu?

“Weh, dia ada ‘problem’ dengan ‘husband’ dia ke? Kenapa kau tanya? Hari tu aku ada baca ‘post’ dia dekat Facebook.” Itu pastinya antara situasi yang pernah anda hadapi.

Atau anda sendiri jenis kaki “stalker” profile kawan-kawan anda untuk mengetahui “isu-isu semasa” berkaitan mereka? Tapi bagus ke kalau kongsi perkara-perkara macam tu?

Tidak dinafikan, kebelakangan ini, ramai di antara kita lebih memilih untuk menyatakan atau berkongsi masalah secara terbuka di media sosial.

Tetapi tanpa kita sedar, perkongsian atau tabiat kita yang suka mengadu di media sosial adakalanya lebih mendatangkan keburukan berbanding kebaikan, terutamanya bagi mereka yang beragama Islam.

Tetapi kenapa tak elok mengadu di media sosial?

Kesan mengadu di media sosial

Seperti pepatah “bumi mana yang tidak pernah ditimpa hujan”, begitu jugalah dengan alam perkahwinan.

Tiada perkahwinan yang dapat lari daripada cabaran dan dugaan yang datang daripada pelbagai cabang.

Malahan tidak dinafikan, ada juga “pengacau” yang hanya menunggu masa untuk meruntuhkan sesebuah rumah tangga itu.

Jadi anda rasa, wajarkah untuk mengadu konflik rumah tangga di media sosial?

Percaya tak kalau sesebuah perkahwinan itu boleh musnah hanya melalui hujung jari? Itulah “kuasa” keyboard warrior yang mungkin ramai tidak sedari.

Pendapat yang mengelirukan

Keburukan paling utama apabila berkongsi masalah di media sosial adalah ia membuka ruang yang luas untuk menerima pendapat dan pandangan yang salah.

Lebih membahayakan apabila anda yang sedang dalam kekeliruan disogokkan dengan pendapat mengelirukan.

Keadaan ini akhirnya boleh membuatkan anda dan pasangan lebih cenderung menggunakan emosi dalam pertimbangan hal berkaitan rumah tangga berbanding akal yang waras.

Sering kali pendapat diberikan di media sosial ini adalah daripada individu yang turut pernah melalui pengalaman sama.

Jadi sedikit sebanyak boleh menyebabkan apa yang dikatakan individu itu lebih menjurus kepada emosi.

Sebaiknya jika perasaan, emosi dan fikiran anda sedang bercelaru, elakkan daripada berkongsi masalah secara terbuka.

Ini adalah perkara yang perlu anda lakukan sekiranya anda masih mahu mencuba untuk memperbaiki keadaan dan hubungan dengan pasangan.

Menimbulkan salah faham

Di dalam kitaran media sosial anda, pastinya terdapat ahli keluarga anda sendiri, bukan?

Jadi apabila anda mengadu masalah yang dihadapi, ia secara tidak langsung akan menimbulkan keaiban kepada pasangan dan menjadikannya topik perbualan individu di sekeliling anda.

Selain mendatangkan keaiban, perbuatan mengadu di media sosial ini juga boleh menyebabkan salah faham dan buruk sangka apabila ada yang menjatuhkan hukuman tanpa mengetahui perkara yang sebenar.

Tidak mustahil untuk konflik rumah tangga yang dilalui menjadi lebih kronik kerana “cakap-cakap” individu di sekitar anda.

Kemelut semakin kronik

Kita tidak boleh membaca fikiran individu lain. Mungkin ada antara rakan anda yang tampak sangat prihatin mengenai masalah yang anda hadapi.

Tetapi pada dasarnya dia mempunyai niat lain. Jadi boleh anda bayangkan apa yang mungkin akan berlaku?

Tak boleh bayangkan? Beginilah, dalam keadaan anda sedang beremosi dan menerima tekanan daripada pelbagai pihak, kebiasaannya anda tidak akan boleh berfikir dengan waras.

Jadi apabila dalam masa sama, ada pihak yang tidak bertanggungjawab menghasut anda untuk membuat keputusan yang mungkin akan anda sesali, ia secara tidak langsung hanya menjadikan konflik rumah tangga anda lebih buruk.

Elok-elok rumah tangga anda masih boleh diselamatkan, terus hancur berkecai, haaa…kan naya tu?

Tip mengendalikan konflik rumah tangga

Jadi bagaimana cara terbaik untuk menyelesaikan masalah rumah tangga yang timbul?

• Berkomunikasi secara berhadapan, tidak kira sama ada anda mempunyai masalah ataupun tidak. Ramai pasangan tidak menyedari, kurang berkomunikasi boleh menjadi punca utama konflik. Lebih-lebih lagi pada zaman sekarang yang lebih banyak menghadap gajet.
• Elakkan bergantung kepada komunikasi atas talian semata-mata bagi mengelakkan kekusutan menjadi lebih serius. Adakalanya memilih untuk berkomunikasi atas talian lebih mengusutkan keadaan.
• Jangan melarikan diri apabila berdepan dengan sebarang isu atau masalah. Hindari daripada menggunakan ‘orang tengah’ untuk menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. Jika masih memerlukan bantuan ‘orang tengah’, pilihlah individu yang anda percayai bagi membantu menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi.

Saluran yang betul

Sebenarnya tidak salah untuk anda berkongsi atau meluahkan apa yang anda alami.

Perbuatan ini sekurang-kurangnya dapat membantu meringankan dan mengurangkan tekanan yang anda lalui saban hari.

Tetapi sebaik-baiknya, berkongsi atau luahkanlah kepada individu yang anda percayai seperti rakan baik atau ahli keluarga.

Atau jika anda malu dengan rakan atau keluarga anda, pilihlah untuk berkongsi dengan pakar kaunseling yang bertauliah.

Sekurang-kurangnya mereka boleh memberikan pandangan dan nasihat yang lebih berkualiti dalam membantu anda mengharungi masalah rumah tangga anda.

Malahan dalam Islam sendiri menganjurkan setiap masalah yang dihadapi oleh pasangan suami isteri atau sebagainya hanya boleh diluahkan kepada individu yang layak untuk membantu menyelesaikannya seperti kaunselor, ustaz atau ustazah, peguam mahupun kawan rapat serta hakim ketika berada di dalam kamar mahkamah.

Artikel ini diterbitkan di hellodoktor.com dan disemak Dr Duyen Le. Hello Health Group tidak memberikan nasihat perubatan, diagnosis atau rawatan.

Anda ada berita menarik untuk dikongsi? Sila email ke fmtohsem@freemalaysiatoday.com

KUALA LUMPUR: A housing expert has extolled the benefits of living in dense residential areas that are well planned, saying they typically provide better access to conveniences than do sprawling suburbs.

Fong Chun Wah, a deputy CEO of Singapore’s Housing and Development Board, said people living in high density neighbourhoods would spend less energy travelling and could better ensure the safety of their school-going children.

Referring to the Singapore experience, he said children living in suburbs would usually need some form of transport to go to school, whereas those living in residential flats could just walk.

“Similarly, I can talk about other facilities like childcare centres and kindergartens,” he added. “You can drop your children off at these facilities before you go to work.”

Fong, who spoke here yesterday at a conference on sustainable cities, told FMT Singapore was forced to be innovative because of the limitations that came with being a small country with a large population.

“When you don’t have constraints, the tendency sometimes is that you are less conscious of the need to be very deliberate in the provision of facilities,” he said.

He added that Singapore’s housing and town planners had to know the needs of the population to ensure the provision of appropriate infrastructure and facilities.

He acknowledged that people’s needs and demands would evolve over time and this meant that planners and developers would have to upgrade or revamp facilities.

Referring to the township of Toa Payoh, he said it had been refreshed many times. For example, he added, the town was now served by air-conditioned buses.

“We keep looking at the population shifts and people’s needs to keep refining the towns,” he said.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 ― Three areas in Sarawak, Penang and Johor recorded improved air quality, with “unhealthy” readings changing to “moderate” readings.

At 11pm last night, the Air Pollutant Index (API) readings released through the Department of Environment’s portal, indicated moderate readings for Sri Aman (91) in Sarawak, Balik Pulau (99) in Penang and Batu Pahat (96) in Johor.

The number of areas with “unhealthy” readings also reduced from 33 at 7pm to 30 at 11pm.

Both Nilai in Negri Sembilan and Johan Setia in Selangor registered the highest “unhealthy” readings at 159 and 158 respectively.

Other areas which are still experiencing ‘unhealthy’ air quality comprise Tasek Ipoh (128), Pegoh Ipoh (109), and Seri Manjung (149) in Perak; Batu Muda (124) and Cheras (120) in Kuala Lumpur; Putrajaya (144); Kuala Selangor (128), Petaling Jaya (124), Shah Alam (124), Klang (124) and Banting (140) in Selangor; Seremban (133) and Port Dickson (144) in Negri Sembilan; Alor Gajah (119), Bukit Rambai (125) and Bandaraya Melaka (123) in Melaka; Segamat (146) and Tangkak (113) in Johor; Rompin (119), Temerloh (155), Jerantut (110), Indera Mahkota (133) and Balok Baru (133) in Pahang; Kemaman (144), Paka (121) and Kuala Terengganu (121) in Terengganu; and Tanah Merah (113) and Kota Baru (114) in Kelantan.

A total of 37 other areas recorded “moderate” readings.

The API comprises the following categories: good (0-50), moderate (51-100), unhealthy (101-200), very unhealthy (201-300) and hazardous (301 onwards). For updates on the haze, visit www.bernama.com. ― Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 ― The parliamentary Caucus on Reform and Governance will hold a seminar today on Economics, Poverty, and Gaps in Malaysia: Definition and Implementation for the Members of Parliament (MP) and government officials in understanding issues related to poverty in the country.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the independent body also invited prominent economy experts and distinguished professors such as Prof Dr Rajah Rasiah and Prof Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, both from Universiti Malaya, to share their present findings on the reality of poverty in Malaysia.

“Resolution and guidance on how the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government should correct its focus on creating a more compassionate and caring economy for the poor regardless of race and group, will be given at the end of the seminar,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, said PH has been campaigning for a long time on the grounds that the previous government Barisan Nasional (BN) has failed to fight the issue of poverty.

“By using incorrect data, BN has stated that the problem of poverty has been virtually eliminated. We know the statement is inaccurate as I personally have witnessed poverty in every town and village I have visited in the country,” he explained.

According to Anwar, the remarks made by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, Prof Philip Alston on August 23, has made every PH leaders realise that they could not hide behind the statistics and continue to ignore the reality, which creates maximum impact on the people.

 The report claimed that Malaysia’s rate of poverty was between 16 to 20 per cent, which was far off from the official figure of 0.4 per cent. ― Bernama