TMR

KOTA KINABALU — Private sector employers in Sabah who observe Sunday as employees’ rest day may need to provide up to three consecutive paid holidays in June 2026 following the overlap of the Kaamatan Festival, Wesak Day and the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Sabah Labour Department (JTK) said the Kaamatan Festival falls on May 30 and 31, while Wesak Day also falls on May 31, according to the First Schedule of the Holidays Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 56).

“Under the Sabah Labour Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 67), the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is one of the five mandatory paid holidays that employers must grant workers and it cannot be replaced with another day,” the department said in a statement today.

It said the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day, meanwhile, are holidays that employers may choose to grant as paid holidays under subsection 103(1)(a) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance, while subsection 103(1)(b) of the ordinance further provides that any holiday falling on a rest day must be replaced with the next working day.

“For employers who choose the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day as paid holidays and designate Sunday as employees’ rest day, June 1, 2026 (Monday) must be observed as a paid holiday for the Birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” it said.

JTK said June 2 (Tuesday) must be observed as a replacement paid holiday for the Kaamatan Festival, while June 3 must be observed as a replacement paid holiday for Wesak Day as both celebrations fall on a rest day.

“However, the replacement holidays for the Kaamatan Festival and Wesak Day may be amended to other days with the consent of employees as provided under the proviso of subsection 103(2) of the Sabah Labour Ordinance,” the statement said.

It added that employees earning wages not exceeding RM4,000 a month, as well as employees specified under paragraph 2 of the First Schedule of the ordinance, are entitled to holiday pay rates if instructed by employers to work on paid holidays. — BERNAMA

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IPOH — The Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) has stressed that any allegations relating to the neglect of elephant welfare at Tennoji Zoo in Japan must be supported by reasonable evidence before any move to terminate the cooperation programme or initiate the repatriation process can be considered.

MPT president Mohamed Akmal Dahalan said decisions concerning the termination of the programme could not be made unilaterally as they are subject to the terms and provisions agreed upon in the agreement between the parties involved.

“The process of returning the elephants or terminating the cooperation can only be carried out based on proper assessment and clear evidence should there be any breach of the agreement’s terms, particularly involving animal welfare aspects.

“MPT wishes to emphasise that any decision related to terminating the cooperation programme, including the return of the elephants or implementation of repatriation, must be made on clear grounds and supported by reasonable evidence of breaches of the agreement,” he said in a statement today.

Mohamed Akmal said the zoo is responsible for ensuring that the elephants’ welfare, health, nutrition, veterinary treatment, safety and daily management are carried out in accordance with international standards and best practices. 

“Tennoji Zoo is also required to continuously implement environmental enrichment programmes in addition to complying with the prohibition of any activities that could compromise animal welfare or involve hybridisation.

“Furthermore, MPT and the relevant agencies have the right to conduct periodic audits and monitoring to ensure full compliance with all terms of the agreement,” he said.

He said monitoring mechanisms are also carried out through Joint Committee Meetings held from time to time, in addition to the zoo’s obligation to provide annual reports on the elephants’ health condition and management.

Commenting on transparency issues, he said the full copy of the agreement cannot be disclosed to the public as it is an official government document classified as confidential and subject to legal and professional obligations between both parties.

However, he said MPT would extend full cooperation to any investigating authority requiring access to the document.

“The contents of the agreement were drafted based on comprehensive review with reference to the Animal Welfare Act 2015 [Act 772], the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 [Act 716], the Malaysian National Elephant Conservation Action Plan (NECAP), as well as international guidelines by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

“The Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment, Science and Plantation of the Malaysian Parliament is currently examining the matter, including planning a visit to Japan for the purpose of review and information gathering,” he said. — BERNAMA

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KANGAR — The prosecution has filed a notice of appeal with the High Court here against the decision of the Sessions Court to acquit and release the son of the former Perlis Menteri Besar, Mohd Shukri Ramli.

Deputy Public Prosecutor of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Ahmad Fariz Abdul Hamid said the notice of appeal was filed at about 4.30 pm yesterday.

“For the next action, we are waiting for the grounds of the judgment from this Sessions Court, only then can we (the prosecution) file an appeal petition,” he told reporters briefly today.

Yesterday, the Sessions Court here acquitted and released Mohd Syafeeq Mohd Shukri (picture), 37, from a charge of submitting a false claim amounting to RM19,505.10 on February 14, 2024.

Judge Datuk Nu’aman Mahmud Zuhudi ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against the accused after examining the witness statements throughout the trial.

On May 23, 2024, Mohd Syafeeq pleaded not guilty to the charge of submitting a Government Order (Supplies/Services) document from the Perlis State Government which allegedly contained false details regarding the service claim for providing refreshments for the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail at Tuanku Fauziah Hospital. — BERNAMA

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SEREMBAN — Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (picture) has not ruled out the possibility of the state election being held this year, although the matter is still under consideration.

The Negeri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said the possibility of holding the election simultaneously with neighbouring states Melaka and Johor would also be looked into.

“The possibility is there (for a state election). In politics, anything is possible. Maybe this year or next year, Insya-Allah.

“We will see when our neighbouring states (Melaka and Johor) hold their elections, and perhaps we can hold them simultaneously. That will be considered,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting at Wisma Negeri here today.

On the upcoming state legislative assembly sitting, Aminuddin said the state government was currently studying suitable dates as the current assembly term only ends on Oct 24. 

“The state government is looking at a suitable date to convene the sitting… there are about six months left, and at the latest by Oct 24. If no sitting is held by then, the assembly will dissolve automatically,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked whether Negeri Sembilan PH would contest solo without Barisan Nasional (BN), he stressed that the decision rested with the central leadership.

He said that although there were strong views within the state PH for the coalition to go solo, the current political landscape could change according to circumstances, and cooperation between parties could still be revived in the future.

In the 15th state election held on Aug 12, 2023, BN won 14 seats, PH secured 17 seats, while Perikatan Nasional won five seats.

In another development, Aminuddin said he is currently assuming the duties of the state executive councillor for Rural Development, Plantations and Commodities; Agriculture, Food Security and Cost of Living; as well as Education following the vacancy of the BN-held exco positions.

The Youth and Sports portfolio is being overseen by Nicole Tan, while the Heritage and Technology portfolio is being handled by Datuk Noor Zunita Begum Mohd Ibrahim and the Innovation and Digital portfolio by J. Arul Kumar.

Last month, 14 BN assemblymen stated that they had withdrawn their support and had lost confidence in Aminuddin, resulting in four state executive councillor positions held by the coalition becoming vacant. — BERNAMA

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