Author: Bulat Kechik

JOHOR BARU: Johor has recorded an increase in conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract illness (URTI) and asthma cases since haze shrouded the country since late last month. State health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said two districts – Johor Baru and Batu Pahat – have consistently recorded unhealthy Air Pollutant Index (API) readings of more than 101 for the past week. “This has led to more people facing health complications such as conjunctivitis, which recorded 45 cases in epidemiology week (ME) 40. “This was an increase compared to 26 cases in the week (ME39) before when there was no…

JAKARTA, Sept 6 (Reuters) – Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Wednesday it is important to avoid a “new Cold War” when dealing with conflicts between countries as world leaders gathered in Indonesia amid sharpening geopolitical rivalries across the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at an annual summit involving members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan and South Korea, Li said countries needed to “appropriately handle differences and disputes”. “At present, it is very important to oppose taking sides, bloc confrontation and a new Cold War,” Li told the meeting. ASEAN, which has warned of the danger of getting dragged into…

JOHOR BAHRU – Johor and Batam, Indonesia have agreed to set up the Johor-Batam Business (Jobat Biz) taskforce to jointly look into entrepreneur development in their areas. Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the task force was established following a meeting between the state government delegation and the Mayor of Batam recently. He said the meeting, held in conjunction with the Johor-Batam Entrepreneurship Development and Training Programme in Indonesia, was attended by directors of various relevant agencies from the Batam Islands as well as representatives from the Consulate General of the…

JOHOR BAHRU – On the approach to Malaysia’s US$100 billion (S$135 billion) island mega project backed by Chinese investment, a collapsed bridge forces drivers to detour before they reach an artificial city emerging from palm oil trees where condos, roads and shops stay empty. Aimed at middle-class Chinese buyers, Forest City has weathered scant sales, Chinese currency controls, a pandemic shutdown and public anger at Beijing’s growing influence in Malaysia. But its future is in doubt again because of the financial woes of Chinese property giant Country Garden. It rose from a farmer’s idea to Beijing’s largest private real estate firm, but…

JAKARTA — Once an idyllic archipelago of fishing villages, Indonesia’s Natuna Islands in recent years have transformed into the front lines of the country’s remote island defenses, amid increased Chinese activity in the area. Earlier this month, staffers from Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry were seen flying drones at a fishery center on Natuna Besar, the archipelago’s largest island located around 1,100 km from Jakarta. Opened in 2015, the Integrated Maritime and Fishery Center Natuna consists of a fishing port capable of accommodating vessels weighing up to around 30 tonnes and a fish market. The drones were surveying surrounding…

JOHOR BARU, Aug 20 — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) seized 47,540 litres of diesel and equipment suspected to have been misappropriated at the Plentong Industrial Estate in Masai here yesterday. Acting Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the seizure was made by a Putrajaya trade enforcement team which raided a store there at 8.10pm under ‘Op Tiris’, following a six-month investigation and surveillance. The raiding party also arrested a 37-year-old man who admitted to working as a trailer driver. “The modus operandi of the syndicate was to use several…

Washington, DC – The United States has formally invited China’s new Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Washington as officials from the two countries continue to meet regularly amid intensifying competition. The US State Department confirmed the invite on Tuesday, saying Washington expects Wang to accept it, but it did not specify a date for the visit. The offer was previously extended to Wang’s predecessor, Qin Gang, who was removed after just seven months in the position. “In the meeting yesterday, we extended the invitation that had previously been made to the former Foreign Minister Qin Gang and made clear that that invitation did…

JOHOR BARU, Aug 2 — Johor-based Forest City, located in the state’s southernmost tip, is prepared to review and re-evaluate its property development plans after 2025 if the need arises as part of its commitment to the state. Forest City master developer Country Garden Pacificview Sdn Bhd (CGPV) said it is currently focusing on its sales and marketing strategy that targets property buyers from Asia, that includes Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Its regional deputy president Ir Syarul Izam Sarifudin said in order to realise that effort, Forest City is committed to stepping up its…

JOHOR BARU, Aug 3 — The Johor Department of Environment (DoE) will continue its operations for another week to identify the source of the noxious odour detected at SK Sungai Tiram and Sekolah Agama Ulu Tiram. Johor Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman K. Raven Kumar said this will also cover other factories and commercial areas within a one-kilometre radius of the two schools. “The operation will be carried out for a week following the results of the latest samples that showed that the six factories located near the two schools were not the cause of the pollution. “All…

JOHOR BARU: The number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases have declined in Johor in epidemiology week 28 (ME28) compared with ME27 this year, says state and health unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon. He said Johor Baru district located the highest number of cases with 1,347, Tangkak (405), Kluang (388), Kota Tinggi (381), Batu Pahat (350), Kulai (246), Segamat (230), Muar (211), Pontian (175) and Mersing (29). “Johor recorded 3,762 cumulative HFMD cases from Jan 1 to July 15 this year,” Ling said in a statement on Tuesday (July 18). He said HFMD cases in the state…