OFFICIAL PORTAL
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
’EXTEND MYANMAR CEASEFIRE’
- Admin UKK
- Berita
ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia, hope the military ruling Myanmar will extend the ceasefire beyond the previously announced period so that relief and recovery efforts can continue after the earthquake.
Following the devastating 7.7magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, the junta announced a three-week ceasefire until April 22.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia and Asean welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire.
He said it needed to be extended, taking into account the extent of the destruction caused by the earthquake and the need for long-term humanitarian assistance, for the security and wellbeing of the people of Myanmar.
“We are very happy with the announcement because in this crisis situation, this country (Myanmar) is facing a catastrophe.
“Do not continue with all the conflicts. The most important thing is how the Myanmar people can be rescued and receive assistance,” he said at a press conference before concluding a humanitarian mission to Myanmar here on Saturday.
Earlier, Mohamad and his Thai counterpart, Maris Sangiampongsa, jointly led a humanitarian aid mission to Myanmar in response to the earthquake that struck the central region of the country and its surrounding areas, claiming thousands of lives.
Mohamad, who is chairman of the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, also expressed hope that the ceasefire could be extended to ensure rescue teams from Malaysia and other Asean countries currently in Myanmar could provide assistance.
“If there are things that we see that could threaten the safety of our teams, I will not hesitate to ask our Asean counterparts to review our presence in Myanmar.”
He also proposed that the humanitarian ceasefire served as a precursor for wider, inclusive dialogue among all Myanmar stakeholders, consistent with the objectives of the Asean’s Five-Point Consensus.
During the mission, Mohamad and Maris held meetings with State Administrative Council chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar Foreign Minister U Than Shwe.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said during the meeting, Mohamad, on behalf of Asean, conveyed Asean’s condolences and unwavering support to the people of Myanmar.
“He also reaffirmed Asean’s collective commitment to continue channelling immediate, effective assistance and long-term support for the recovery efforts of the affected communities.”
It added that as part of Malaysia’s commitment to humanitarian assistance, Mohamad handed over 15 tonnes of humanitarian aid upon arrival in the capital here.
The aid was handed over to the Asean Coordinated Relief Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Management (AHA Centre), which coordinates Asean’s contributions with Myanmar authorities.
The aid was sent via an Asean-coordinated relief flight operated by the Royal Malaysian Air Force from the Asean Disaster Emergency Logistics System warehouse in Subang, Malaysia.
The third flight carrying additional aid is scheduled to arrive here on April 7.
Malaysia’s humanitarian contribution includes an allocation of RM10 million from the government and the deployment of 50 members of the Special Search and Rescue Team of Malaysia (Smart). The team, stationed in the Sagaing region, has provided vital support to the immediate search-and-rescue (SAR) efforts.
Before leaving Myanmar, Mohamad received a briefing from the AHA Centre representative here, who confirmed that the humanitarian operation had shifted from the SAR phase to the recovery phase.
The Foreign Ministry said the humanitarian mission also reaffirmed Asean unity and coordinated regional action, as well as reflected Asean’s strong unity and solidarity, especially in the face of challenging situations. This also demonstrates Asean’s ability to respond swiftly and integratedly in humanitarian crises.
“Malaysia as the Asean chair will continue to work closely with other member states, the AHA Centre and international humanitarian partners to ensure that the assistance delivered is timely.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Members of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) were overcome with sorrow during their mission in Myanmar, as they retrieved the bodies of children from beneath the debris of a collapsed school building.
What was meant to be a place of learning became a scene of heartbreak, making the two-day operation in the Sagaing region one of the most emotionally difficult for the team.
In a Facebook post, SMART said the operation, led by officer PB Avlyanie Moidi with the help of local rescuers, was carried out non-stop in the race to find victims.
“The bodies of the victims were found buried under rubble and concrete as deep as 3m. Three victims were extricated.
“The team extends its deepest condolences to the families.”
The Assessment, Search and Rescue Level 5 (ASR5) phase, the final stage of operations focused on recovering deceased victims and thoroughly checking all possible voids, will be continued by local rescue teams.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who ended his official visit to Myanmar on Saturday, told Bernama that the SMART team would end its operations and return home today.
He added that the search-andrescue (SAR) operation by SMART was stopped because no more survivors had been found trapped under the rubble of the natural disaster.
The one-day humanitarian mission was led by his Thai counterpart, Maris Saengiampongsa.
Mohamad said National Administrative Council chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Myanmar Foreign Minister U Than Shwe, during a meeting, expressed their appreciation to Malaysia for SMART’s efficiency in carrying out the SAR operation in the country, as well as the distribution of humanitarian aid.
Mohamad said SMART was sent to Sagaing because the team had adequate SAR equipment.
“In fact, I was informed that the people there have so much respect and admiration for our SMART team that they have asked our team not to return to Malaysia,” he said.
Malaysia had sent two Royal Malaysian Air Force A400M aircraft carrying 50 Smart personnel and officers, as well as teams under the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) to Myanmar for the SAR operation on March 30.
SMART had successfully pulled out seven victims, including one who was still alive under the rubble of the earthquake in Sagaing since last Monday.
RAIN is compounding misery and presenting new hurdles for relief efforts yesterday in Myanmar, where state media reported the death toll from a devastating earthquake has risen to nearly 3,500 people.
The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on March 28, razing buildings, cutting off power and destroying bridges and roads across the country.
Damage has been particularly severe in the city of Sagaing near the epicentre, as well as in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city with more than 1.7 million residents.
State media in the military junta-led country now say that the earthquake has caused 3,471 confirmed deaths and injured 4,671 people, while 214 remain missing.
With people either having lost their homes entirely or reluctant to spend time in unstable structures, many residents have been sleeping outside in tents.
Around 45 minutes of heavy rain and winds lashed tent cities on Saturday evening in Mandalay, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
People and their belongings were soaked because of a shortage of tarpaulins, Tun Tun, a programme specialist at the UN agency, said.
There are also fears destroyed buildings will subside and complicate body recovery efforts.
Following less intense showers yesterday morning, the temperature is due to climb to 37°C.
Aid experts warn that rainy conditions and scorching heat increase the risk of disease outbreaks at outdoor camps where victims were in temporary shelter.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said that food, water and power repairs were needed urgently. Many people in the area were still without shelter, he said.
“We need to get tents and hope to survivors as they rebuild their shattered lives.”
Meanwhile, Thailand and Malaysia are closely coordinating with Myanmar to mobilise international assistance.
Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa said he had agreed with Malaysia, the Asean chair, to coordinate with Myanmar on the delivery of international aid, with the Asean Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian
Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) serving as the central coordinator.
“In the initial phase, Thailand will focus on the affected areas in Mandalay, while Malaysia will concentrate on areas in Sagaing,” he posted on X yesterday.
On Saturday, Maris and his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, jointly led a humanitarian mission to Naypyidaw.
Maris expressed his appreciation to Mohamad for the invitation to join the Asean humanitarian mission to Myanmar.
He said the purpose of the visit was to discuss ways to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people.
“During the visit, Thai and Malaysian delegations held discussions with the Myanmar authorities, the AHA Centre and UN agencies, which provided valuable information necessary for mobilising aid to the affected population.”
KUALA LUMPUR: While many are still celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a group of university students have chosen to forgo their festive holidays to assist victims of last Tuesday's gas pipeline fire, currently sheltering at the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Masjid Putra Heights, Subang Jaya.
Under the Higher Education Ministry's Ihsan Madani squad initiative, volunteers from the Malaysian Universities Volunteer Council (MASKUM) have been on-site since Wednesday, tirelessly helping those affected.
Led by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) student representative council member Ridhwan Syahir, 23, the 20-member group described the mission as an invaluable experience.
"By joining this mission, we can put ourselves in their shoes and truly understand their situation – especially during Hari Raya Aidilfitri," Ridhwan shared.
Students from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) also contributed manpower and distributed supplies, including food and baby kits.
Ikmal Daniel Ridza Abdu, 21, expressed the importance of contributing alongside multiple agencies, while Sharina Erna Suara, 20, was thrilled to volunteer for the first time.
"I'm very happy to give back to the community although the incident didn't happen in my home state of Sabah. We are all part of Malaysia," Sharina said.
As of last night, 382 victims from 99 families remain housed at the PPS Masjid Putra Heights.– BERNAMA
Kebakaran di Putra Heights cetus gangguan pengeluaran, kerugian kewangan 200 kilang
- Admin UKK
- Berita
KUALA LUMPUR: Kejadian kebakaran paip gas di Putra Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor memberi impak besar terhadap operasi kira-kira 200 kemudahan industri di Lembah Klang melibatkan pelbagai subsektor pembuatan dan saiz syarikat.
Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia (FMM), Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai, berkata pengilang yang terjejas kebanyakannya bergantung kepada bekalan gas yang stabil dan terjamin untuk pengeluaran selain berdepan kemungkinan pemberhentian pengeluaran, kerugian kewangan dan gangguan teruk kepada rantaian bekalan mereka.
Beliau berkata, paling terjejas teruk iaitu kalangan pengilang yang beroperasi sepanjang masa terutamanya pengilang barangan kritikal dan keperluan seperti makanan dan minuman serta gas industri.
"Walaupun pemulihan secara am dijangka pada 20 April 2025, kami memahami bekalan kepada penyedia perkhidmatan penting terpilih seperti kemudahan pembuatan makanan, mungkin bermula seawal hari ini.
"Bagaimanapun, ini tertakluk kepada faktor-faktor seperti lokasi geografi kilang-kilang dan tahap tekanan yang dapat dicapai dalam keadaan semasa," kata Soh kepada Bernama.
Pada 1 April lalu, kebakaran berlaku di paip utama Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB) berhampiran Putra Heights yang mengakibatkan gangguan bekalan gas ke kemudahan industri yang terjejas.
Syarikat yang terjejas adalah pelanggan PGB dan Gas Malaysia Bhd.
Beliau berpendapat pada ketika ini, sukar untuk menganggarkan jumlah kerugian yang ditanggung oleh syarikat terjejas kerana ia bergantung kepada jadual pemulihan bekalan gas secara sepenuhnya.
FMM memberi amaran kemungkinan berlaku kelewatan dalam memenuhi pesanan eksport terutamanya untuk barangan yang sensitif terhadap masa atau mudah rosak walaupun untuk syarikat yang tidak terjejas secara langsung tetapi berada dalam rantaian bekalan syarikat terjejas.
"Apabila pembekal tempatan alternatif tersedia, pembeli mungkin mengalihkan pesanan mereka buat sementara waktu yang boleh menjejaskan hubungan dengan pelanggan bagi pengilang-pengilang yang terjejas," kata Soh.
Dalam jangka masa pendek, beliau berkata syarikat-syarikat terbabit mungkin menanggung kos pengeluaran yang lebih tinggi melalui sumber tenaga alternatif bagi memenuhi komitmen mereka yang akan menjejaskan margin keuntungan.
"Jika gangguan ini berlarutan, ia berpotensi menyebabkan pembatalan pesanan atau kehilangan kontrak eksport," katanya.
Menurut Soh, kebanyakan syarikat kini sedang berusaha menguruskan keadaan daripada kemudahan sedia ada mereka.
Bagaimanapun, katanya syarikat-syarikat yang mempunyai beberapa kilang atau rangkaian serantau mungkin mengalihkan pengeluaran secara sementara ke tapak yang tidak terjejas.
Soh berkata kejadian seperti ini tidak dapat dielakkan yang akan memberi kesan kepada keyakinan perniagaan terutamanya dalam kalangan pelabur yang menilai kebolehpercayaan infrastruktur utiliti.
"Walaupun Malaysia kekal sebagai hab pembuatan yang kompetitif, kejadian ini menekankan keperluan untuk perancangan kecemasan yang lebih baik dan keterjaminan tenaga.
"Pelabur kini boleh memberi penekanan yang lebih besar terhadap kesinambungan bekalan menerusi penilaian risiko serta proses penyelidikan teliti mereka," katanya.
Soh berkata, industri kini giat meneroka penyelesaian sementara seperti pengaturan bekalan gas alternatif atau langkah-langkah bantuan bagi mengurangkan gangguan perniagaan termasuk meninjau bekalan alternatif seperti gas asli cecair (LNG) melalui lori tangki.
Mereka juga meminta bantuan daripada pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan bagi memudahkan pengaturan dan kelulusan yang diperlukan berdasarkan asas kecemasan bagi meminimumkan impak gangguan bekalan kepada industri yang terjejas.
"FMM sedang giat berhubung dengan Suruhanjaya Tenaga, Gas Malaysia Energy and Services, kerajaan negeri dan pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan bagi mempercepatkan pemulihan bekalan terutamanya kepada industri yang dikategorikan di bawah perkhidmatan penting," katanya.
Soh berkata kejadian ini bagaimanapun menjadi peringatan penting berhubung keperluan untuk strategi pengurusan risiko tenaga yang komprehensif terutamanya dalam landskap apabila pergantungan industri terhadap gas asli paip menjadi kebiasaan.
"FMM menggesa pihak berkuasa untuk memberi keutamaan kepada pembinaan daya tahan dalam infrastruktur tenaga selain menyokong industri dalam membangunkan pilihan bahan api alternatif yang lebih mudah diakses serta kos lebih cekap," katanya.
KUALA LUMPUR: As the Putra Heights gas pipeline fire incident enters its fifth day, victims who have yet to register at temporary relief centres are advised to do so before the registration closes at noon today.
To date, 509 families have registered at the relief centres, although not all are residing there. The number is expected to increase as some victims were away during the incident, which occurred on the second day of Hari Raya.
The registration process aims to ensure that returning victims are not left out of receiving the assistance previously announced.
The government will also introduce a new assistance category of RM2,500 for tenants, in addition to the RM5,000 for homeowners whose properties were completely destroyed, and RM2,500 for those whose homes were partially damaged, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
As of yesterday, 130 out of the 235 affected homes in Taman Putra Harmoni were declared safe, with residents allowed to return. However, residents of Kampung Sungai Baru have yet to be permitted home as safety clearance is still pending.
In the meantime, Airbnb has stepped in to offer 78 homes for temporary accommodation for up to two months, supplementing the 100 units already pledged by the Selangor Housing and Property Board (LPHS).
The Selangor government is also providing transportation support for school-going children of the affected families. Those needing this service must be present at the relief centres at the Putra Heights Mosque and MBSJ’s Dewan Camelia starting Monday.
Five vehicles from Prasarana and the Selangor Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) programme will ferry students from the PPS to 34 different schools.
Meanwhile, 30 more affected victims received temporary-use vehicles from car sales company Carro today to assist them with daily activities.
Other forms of aid include household vouchers from Panasonic Malaysia, RM3,000 in cash donations from Berjaya Cares Foundation and Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad, as well as 50 Perodua Bezza cars made available free for a month by Carsome.
As of this evening, 42 of the 145 victims injured in the fire are still receiving treatment in hospitals.
Of those, 24 are being treated in Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities, including a 65-year-old patient in the ICU of Ampang Hospital with six per cent partial thickness burns and chemical pneumonitis with type II respiratory failure. Another 18 are being treated at private hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Selangor government has given its assurance that the investigation into the incident will be conducted transparently, without protecting any party involved.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that audit teams from both the federal and state governments have been deployed to the Selangor Utility Corridor (KuSel) and the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) following allegations of negligence on the part of both entities that may have led to the incident.
At the same time, the Fire and Rescue Department said that the final safety assessment of the fire crater and gas explosion site is expected to be completed by tomorrow and will be presented to the Selangor Disaster Management Committee soon.
The Petronas gas pipeline fire, which broke out at 8.10 am on Tuesday, saw flames shooting over 30 metres high, with temperatures reaching 1,000°C. It took nearly eight hours to fully extinguish the blaze.
A total of 87 homes were badly damaged and deemed uninhabitable, while 148 homes sustained damage but are safe to live in after repairs.
