Deluge knows no boundary

Deluge knows no boundary
Journalist deaths rise to 70 in 2013
Bird flu subtype re-emerges in Hong Kong
Paras air di Sungai Sarawak sentiasa dipantau, kata Jabu
Sarawak mula dilanda banjir
Najib umum 11 langkah kurangkan perbelanjaan sektor awam

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:07 PM PST

KUALA BELAIT: Staff and patients alike were treading in ankle-deep water as Hospital Suri Seri Begawan was flooded due to a heavy downpour on Sunday night in the Belait District, Brudirect reported.

The floodwater made its way into the reception area yesterday morning, causing disruption in daily operation as staffs were prompted to remove the water as quick as they can.

It was not until 9am yesterday that the flood began to recede. Other areas in the Belait District remained in almost two feet of water, including the Kuala Balai housing area, Kampong Lumut, Kampong Sungai Liang, Jalan Utara Seria and various residential grounds in Seria.

In response to this continuous flooding, the Belait District Office and other government agencies set up the Incident Command Post (ICP) in Kg Sungai Mau yesterday. Relief operation on flooded areas is currently ongoing.

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Journalist deaths rise to 70 in 2013

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 05:39 PM PST

The number of journalists killed worldwide this year has risen to 70, including eight who lost their lives in the unusually deadly month of December, a US-based watchdog said Monday.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) updated its toll less than two weeks after reporting that 52 journalists had died on the job.

Syria was the deadliest assignment, resulting in 28 deaths this year, CPJ said. Ten journalists were killed in Iraq, including five in December alone.

The updated figures include the deadly December bombing of an Iraqi TV station, and additional killings in Iraq, Syria and India.

The toll is based on what CPJ calls "a rigorous research process" to verify whether journalists were killed as a direct result of their work.

The toll as it stands now is down slightly from 74 in 2012. But CPJ is still investigating the 2013 deaths of 25 more journalists to establish whether they were work-related.

More than a third of the journalists were killed in combat or crossfire, while 20 percent died during some other type of dangerous assignment.

At least 63 journalists have perished covering the civil war in Syria since it broke out in 2011.

"Yet the huge number of deaths in Syria does not tell the complete story of the danger to journalists there," CPJ's Elana Beiser said in a blog post.

"The country saw an unprecedented number of kidnappings in 2013; about 60 journalists were abducted at least briefly during the year, according to CPJ research. Late in 2013, at least 30 were still missing. Most were believed held by rebel groups. However, at least one journalist died in government custody during the year."

The third deadliest country for journalists in 2013 was Egypt with six deaths, followed by Pakistan with five, Somalia with four, India, the Philippines and Brazil with three each and Russia and Mali with two each. Turkey, Bangladesh, Colombia and Libya each saw one journalist death, CPJ said.

Paris-based media rights watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said earlier this month that 71 journalists lost their lives in 2013. – AFP

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Bird flu subtype re-emerges in Hong Kong

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:23 PM PST

HONG KONG: An elderly man has contracted a mild form of bird flu in the first case of its type for four years, Hong Kong officials said on Monday.

"We are now investigating a confirmed human case of influenza A H9N2, affecting a man aged 86," Leung Ting-hung, controller of the city's Centre for Health Protection, told reporters.

H9N2 is an avian flu subtype that mainly affects ducks and chickens but can also pass to humans, causing mild symptoms. Under Hong Kong law cases of such infection must be made public, according to Leung.

Since 1999 Hong Kong has reported seven such cases with the last one reported in 2009, Leung said.

The man, who lives in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen bordering Hong Kong, was diagnosed with the disease after returning to Hong Kong on Saturday.

He is now in stable condition in an isolation ward.

"As the temperature is cooler in recent weeks, we expect there may be other cases of avian influenza being detected," Leung said.

On Thursday the city reported the first death from the more serious H7N9 strain of bird flu.

The male victim had returned from Shenzhen, as had a woman who contracted Hong Kong's first reported case of H7N9. She is still in hospital in stable condition.

Scientists have warned that avian flu could potentially cause a pandemic if it mutates into a form easily transmissible between humans. – AFP

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Paras air di Sungai Sarawak sentiasa dipantau, kata Jabu

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:22 PM PST

KUCHING: Sarawak River Barrage (SRB) sentiasa menjalankan pemantauan paras air di Sungai Sarawak, kata Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

Menurutnya, petugas SRB melakukan pemantauan dari semasa ke semasa bagi mengelak berlakunya banjir besar di negeri ini.

"Apa yang anda lihat mereka membuat penjadualan paras air secara teknikal dari semasa ke semasa dan di sini (baraj) mereka tidak membuat ia secara begitu sahaja bagi memastikan ketepatan yang jitu," katanya ketika ditemui di SRB di sini semalam.

Malah, Jabu memberitahu bahawa SRB mempunyai 24 stesen bagi merekodkan taburan hujan dan paras air sungai di seluruh negeri.

"Kesemua stesen ini dipantau di sini menerusi monitor dan petugas akan merekodkan setiap bacaan yang ditunjukkan," jelasnya.

Berhubung pembukaan pintu baraj semalam, beliau berharap paras air di Sungai Sarawak akan menurun bagi mengurangkan risiko berlakunya banjir.

"Mereka melakukan tugas Paras air di Sungai Sarawak sentiasa dipantau, kata Jabu dengan berhemah dan kita berharap hujan tidak turun dalam masa tiga jam ini.

"Justeru, marilah kita bersama- sama berdoa mengikut kepercayaan masing-masing supaya dihindiri musibah banjir ini agar kita dapat meraikan Tahun Baharu 2014 dengan keadaan yang baik," ujarnya.

Sementara itu, jurucakap SRB memberitahu, paras air laut setinggi 11 meter dijangka akan melanda sekitar 7 malam pada Jumaat ini (3 Januari).

Tegasnya, banjir dijangka melanda di beberapa kawasan rendah seluruh Sarawak sekiranya hujan turun berterusan dalam tempoh dua atau tiga hari ini.

"Bacaan tertinggi paras air sungai adalah setinggi 10 meter yang dicatat hari ini sekitar jam 3 petang.

"Kami baharu sahaja dapat membuka pintu baraj dan sekarang paras air semakin rendah iaitu 9.7 meter.

"Namun, kami menjangkakan paras air laut setinggi 11 meter akan melanda pada 3 Januari ini sekitar jam 7 malam, sekiranya hujan berterusan melanda bandar raya Kuching dijangkakan akan berlaku banjir di beberapa kawasan rendah," katanya ketika ditemui semalam.

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Sarawak mula dilanda banjir

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:21 PM PST

by Siti Aisyah Ramli. Posted on December 31, 2013, Tuesday

Bintulu terjejas agak teruk dengan membabitkan 327 mangsa dipindahkan

KUCHING: Beberapa bahagian di Sarawak mula dilanda banjir kelmarin dengan Bintulu terjejas agak teruk yang membabitkan 327 mangsa dipindahkan ke pusat pemindahan sementara sejak pagi semalam.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang berkata selain Bintulu, dua pusat pemindahan di Miri turut dibuka iaitu di Marudi dan Niah membabitkan 12 keluarga merangkumi 39 mangsa.

Namun setakat ini, bencana banjir yang melanda Bintulu tidak menjejaskan sebarang aktiviti operasi loji petrokimia di kawasan terbabit.

Di kawasan lain seperti Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman, Betong, Sarikei, Sibu dan Mukah meskipun mula dinaiki air semalam, tiada pusat pemindahan dibuka memandangkan paras air masih rendah.

"Meskipun hujan turun secara berterusan di beberapa bahagian di seluruh negeri ini, ia masih berada di bawah paras terkawal.

"Penduduk di kawasan sekitar yang terjejas akibat banjir dinasihati supaya tidak menyebarkan berita-berita tentang banjir yang belum disahkan bagi mengelakkan sebarang suasana panik," katanya pada sidang media selepas Mesyuarat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN), di sini, semalam.

Jabu yang juga pengerusi jawatankuasa itu turut menasihati orang ramai agar sentiasa berwaspada dan membuat persiapan bagi menangani situasi hujan yang mengakibatkan bencana banjir.

Beliau yang juga pengerusi mesyuarat JPBN berkata, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia telah memaklumkan bahawa sebanyak empat hingga lima episod hujan lebat dijangka berlaku sepanjang musim Monsun Timur Laut yang dijangka berakhir pada Mac 2014.

Selain itu, hujan berterusan itu juga telah mengakibatkan kejadian tanah runtuh di dua kawasan iaitu di Jalan Bakong Kilometer 7 (KM7), Miri dan kawasan Mukah.

"Dua kawasan iaitu di Jalan Bakong Kilometer 7 (KM7), Miri dan kawasan Mukah telah terputus hubungan akibat tanah runtuh yang berlaku ekoran hujan lebat.

"Namun kami (JPBN) akan sentiasa berusaha mencari jalan untuk menghulurkan bantuan kepada mangsa yang berada di kawasan-kawasan yang terjejas banjir," ujarnya.

Selain pembukaan pusat-pusat pemindahan mangsa banjir, JPBN turut menyalur bantuan kepada mangsa banjir yang berada di kawasan pedalaman yang tidak dapat berpindah.

Mesyuarat JPBN yang berlangsung semalam dihadiri ahli jawatankuasa JPBN terdiri daripada agensi kerajaan persekutuan dan negeri serta semua Residen yang bertindak sebagai Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Bahagian (JPBB).

Hadir sama ialah Pemangku Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri merangkap Timbalan Pengerusi Mesyuarat JPBN Datu Misnu Taha dan Setiausaha Keselamatan Negeri merangkap Setiausaha JPBN Addyhanis Ahamad.

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Najib umum 11 langkah kurangkan perbelanjaan sektor awam

Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:20 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak semalam mengumumkan 11 langkah bagi mengurangkan perbelanjaan sektor awam, termasuk mengurangkan elaun keraian menteri dan timbalan menteri sebanyak 10 peratus, berkuat kuasa 1 Januari.

Tindakan itu adalah selaras dengan hasrat kerajaan untuk mengamalkan perbelanjaan yang lebih berhemah pada tahun depan, katanya dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata keputusan itu dibuat hasil rundingan dengan Timbalannya Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin dan Ketua Setiausaha Negara Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.

Beliau berkata kerajaan juga akan mengurangkan elaun keraian sebanyak lima hingga 10 peratus bagi pegawai kanan kerajaan Gred Jawatan Utama Sektor Awam C (JUSA C) ke atas.

Selain itu, kemudahan tol pegawai kanan kerajaan gred itu juga akan dikurangkan sebanyak RM50 hingga RM100 atau sebanyak 30 peratus, katanya dalam kenyataan dua muka surat itu.

Najib berkata kerajaan juga akan meminda kelayakan Tiket Penerbangan Domestik dan Antarabangsa bagi penjawat awam iaitu kelayakan penerbangan sektor domestik bagi Gred Jusa C ke bawah ialah Kelas Ekonomi.

Selain itu, kerajaan juga akan mengurangan lima peratus kos utiliti elektrik di semua kementerian, jabatan, agensi dan premis kerajaan, selain membekukan permohonan baharu bagi pengubahsuaian ruang pejabat kerajaan.

Beliau berkata kerajaan juga memutuskan untuk mengoptimumkan penggunaan ruang pejabat sedia ada bagi mengurangkan sewaan premis pejabat.

Najib, yang juga Menteri Kewangan berkata kerajaan juga akan mengetatkan pelantikan juruperunding untuk projek-projek fizikal kerajaan termasuk dalam menjalankan kajian kebolehlaksanaan.

Beliau berkata cadangan pelantikan hendaklah dikemukakan terlebih dahulu kepada Jawatankuasa Perancang Pembangunan Negara yang dipengerusikan Ketua Setiausaha Negara untuk kelulusan.

Kerajaan juga akan mengurangkan penggunaan syarikat pengurusan acara atau 'event management' serta pemberian sagu hati (door gifts) atau cenderamata untuk penganjuran persidangan atau majlismajlis kerajaan yang melibatkan anggota pentadbiran dan penjawat awam, katanya.

Najib berkata kerajaan juga akan mengurangkan penyediaan makanan dan minuman serta mengurangkan penggunaan kain pemidang (bunting dan banner) bagi penganjuran persidangan, seminar, mesyuarat, kursus, bengkel atau sebarang acara rasmi kerajaan.

Kerajaan juga akan mengaplikasi pendekatan Strategi Lautan Biru Kebangsaan (NBOS) dengan mengoptimumkan penggunaan Pusat Latihan 1Malaysia (1MTC) dan kemudahan-kemudahan di institusi- institusi latihan milik kerajaan bagi penganjuran kursus, seminar dan bengkel, katanya. — Bernama

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