SELangkah gets Getting ahead Seeking change New stories for an an upgrade of the virus for women old town 4 7-9 10&11 14 FREE l MARCH 2021 EDITION l www.selangorjournal.my SELANGOR A shot of hope ith the arrival of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Malay- sia on Feb 21, Selangor is making plans to ensure that all its cit- izens will have equal access to the immunisation programme. Aside from the doses provided by the Federal government, the Wstate administration will see through its plan to buy between two and five million shots of the vaccine for the people of Selangor. Should the plan come through, they will MORE ON arrive in May or June. PAGE 3 Leading by example, Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari gets his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, admin- istered by a health officer from the Petaling Health District Office on Feb 25. This kickstarts the state-level National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme — Picture by BERNAMA 2 NEWS Selangor Journal l MARCH 2021 Exco: Serious pollution incidents averted By NORRASYIDAH ARSHAD SHAH ALAM - The implementation of several strategic measures introduced Assistance for special under the Raw Water Security Scheme (SJAM) has prevented river pollution in- needs children cidents that could lead to the closure of water treatment plants (WTPs). SHAH ALAM - Parents of children with spe- Among the measures taken include cial needs (OKU) under the age of 18 are 24-hour surveillance of the rivers as well encouraged to apply for the Bantuan Khas as the use of a nanotechnology-based Anak Istimewa Selangor (Anis) scheme, product called aquaritin to clean the riv- which offers benefits of up to RM5,000 for ers naturally. each family. State executive councillor for infra- Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amiru- structure Izham Hashim said the actions din Shari said registration for the scheme taken have proven to be effective as the opened on Feb 15. nine cases of water pollution that were “Especially for Selangor citizens, each detected in January and February were Selangor Department of Environment workers collect samples from the family can receive four types of aid which in- successfully resolved. Kajang side of Sungai Langat on Feb 3 after chemicals were illegally dumped clude food and additional needs, purchase “Four measures were undertaken into its waters or repair of equipment, medicine and spe- through SJAM, which include early treat- cial education. ment (of polluted water) at water treat- that we would be able to resolve the wa- year was detected on Jan 15 when “The state government has allocated ment ponds, monitoring and surveil- ter supply disruption issue,” he told Se- chemical waste was disposed into Sun- RM3.25 million in the 2021 Selangor Budget lance, the construction of infrastructure langorKini on Feb 16. gai Cinchang. for the implementation of the OKU empow- at Sungai Selangor and the enforcement On Sunday, state executive councillor The latest incident was reported on erment programme. Register now at www. of the Selangor Water Management Au- for environment Hee Loy Sian said since Feb 14, involving metal smelting activity anis.yawas.my,” he said on Facebook. thority (Luas) (Amendment) Enactment January, Luas has successfully dealt with near Sungai Semenyih. Applicants can register and check on 2020. nine incidents of pollution that had the Aside from the gazettement of the their status via the website. Assistance will “Now we are in the process of imple- potential to cause water supply disrup- Luas Enactment, the Selangor govern- be channelled after the application is ap- menting all the other measures. Once tion. ment had introduced the SJAM last De- proved. they are fully executed, we are confident The first case of river pollution this cember with a RM200 million budget. Tax waiver to keep theme parks afloat SHAH ALAM - Entertainment duty ex- vided them with a glimmer of hope to norm,” he said. emptions for the entrance fees of continue their operation. We now wish On Feb 2, Selangor Menteri Besar theme parks from March 2020 to De- they will conduct promotions to attract Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced cember this year will go a long way in visitors,” he told SelangorKini. the tax exemption in an effort to save helping park owners sustain their busi- Azrul Shah said although the sector is the sector. The move has an estimated ness till after the movement control or- again allowed to operate, theme parks financial impact of RM26.35 million. der (MCO) period. still face problems as they are bound by He said the state administration had Tourism Selangor general manager strict standard operating procedures and also agreed to reduce the entertain- Azrul Shah Mohamad said since the en- will be expecting low visitor turnouts. ment tax rate from 25 per cent to 5 per forcement of the MCO, theme park op- “Therefore Tourism Selangor will in- cent for the entrance fees to all theme erators have been facing a crisis as they tensify all efforts (to help the sector) by parks in the state over a duration of have not been allowed to open their promoting the ‘Pusing Selangor Dulu’ five years starting from Jan 1, 2022, to business. (Explore Selangor First) campaign, is- Dec 31, 2026, with an estimated total “When this initiative was announced, suing vouchers, and introducing ways of RM21.04 million in financial impact a they breathed a sigh of relief as it pro- to enjoy tourism products in the new year over the five-year period. ‘State has set benchmark for good governance’ SHAH ALAM - Selangor has set a good and balances system within the govern- learnt is that we have the right condi- Foundation, was moderated by its ex- example in its administration that ment. tions to get better revenue-sharing al- ecutive chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred should be emulated by other states. “The people can see the role played locations from the Federal,” said Teng. Madius Tangau and joined by panellists Selangor Investment, Industry and by their state assemblymen even He said this during a webinar series Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Trade, Small and Medium Industries though the (Federal) government’s sup- on Zoom titled ‘Income Tax Revenue for Institute for Democracy and Economic Committee chairman Dato’ Teng Chang porters are so critical and vocal. States Too: Can Malaysia Learn from In- Affairs (Ideas) chief executive officer Khim said 10 committees have been “Thus, this is an advantage over oth- donesia?’ on Feb 9. Tricia Yeoh and its Public Finance Unit set up to provide an extensive checks er states and the lesson that can be The webinar, organised by Wisdom manager Sri Murniati. Selangor Journal l MARCH 2021 NEWS 3 Still set on buying SHAH ALAM - Selangor will still continue its efforts MB gets first jab as to acquire its own supply of Covid-19 vaccines de- spite receiving the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech doses from the Federal government on Feb 25. Although the state government is grateful to have received the vaccines, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri inoculations begin Amirudin Shari said his administration will still work towards buying more doses to ensure that as many By ALANG BENDAHARA people in the state as possible are vaccinated. “This is to complement the Federal government’s SHAH ALAM - Selangor Menteri Be- effort by providing enough doses for the people sar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari received of Selangor, especially those who are at high-risk the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and the workers in sectors that are the heart of the vaccine on Feb 25, kick-starting the state’s economy. National Covid-19 Immunisation Pro- “May Allah bless our noble cause and may Selan- gramme at the state level. gor be free from the Covid-19 pandemic and other During the event, Amirudin was deadly diseases,” said Amirudin in a statement on with 42 others — including state ex- Feb 25. ecutive councillors and members of Earlier, Amirudin and 41 others had received the Selangor Security Special Com- their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 mittee — to receive the vaccine ad- vaccine at the Shah Alam Hospital, here, and are ministered by 12 vaccinators. scheduled to be vaccinated with the second dose In a statement on Feb 25, Amiru- on March 18. din said a total of 66,690 frontline On Feb 22, Amirudin announced that the Selan- workers will receive the Covid-19 vac- gor government is expected to receive between cine in the first phase of the vaccina- two and five million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by tion programme in Selangor. Malaysia Jabatan Penerangan May or June. “Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God) The much-awaited Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines arrive at the Kuala He said the vaccine is crucial in speeding up the the launching of the state-level Na- Lumpur International Airport on Feb 21 process of the National Covid-19 Immunisation tional Covid-19 Immunisation Pro- Programme. gramme went well. handover ceremony of the Covid-19 welcoming speech said 33 per cent Selangor has received 78,000 doses of the “Thank you to the Health Ministry, vaccines to Selangor, was broadcast of Malaysia’s Covid-19 cases were de- Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase of the immuni- the Selangor State Health Depart- live by Media Selangor on its social tected in Selangor. sation programme where a total of 66,690 frontline ment and health workers, especial- media platform and website. “With the vaccine that arrived in the workers will be getting their shots. ly the staff at the Petaling District Speaking to reporters after, Amiru- country on Feb 21 and the handover The first batch of Covid-19 vaccines arrived in Health Office,” the statement read.