Dewan Negara news in brief

KUALA LUMPUR: Following are today’s Dewan Negara news in brief:

The integration process between the Orang Asli information data system (iDAMAK) and the e-Kasih system is expected to be completed next year, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid.

She said it was a collaborative effort between the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department and the Department of Orang Asli Development.

“If the data fulfils the criteria for the e-Kasih system registration, we expect the integration will be completed next year,” she said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2021 in the Dewan Negara today.

Mastura said as of Dec 15, a total of 1,007 heads of the Orang Asli household consisting of those living outside the Orang Asli villages are registered in the e-Kasih system.

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No official map has been issued to show the maritime boundary delimitation between states in Malaysia at this time, but efforts are being made to produce it.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid said engagement sessions and discussions are being held to finalise the maritime boundary delimitation issue.

She added negotiations are ongoing between states such as Kelantan and Terengganu to prepare a maritime border agreement but it has not been finalised as there are some matters that require further research.

She was replying to a question from Senator Mohd Apandi Mohamad who wanted to know if Kelantan and Terengganu formally applied for a maritime boundary delimitation map to resolve disputes between the states.

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A total of 2,409 Orang Asli underwent health screenings, a benefit provided under the PeKa B40 scheme as of Nov 28, said Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.

However, he said the number could be lower than the actual figure of eligible recipients as the data was based on the information reported by medical practitioners conducting the screenings.

Some medical practitioners did not update the information on recipients’ ethnicity in the PeKa B40 system thus the Ministry of Health would strengthen cooperation with the Department of Orang Asli Development to rectify the situation, he said.

“Discussions were also held with the Orang Asli Hospital in Gombak to increase promotional activities and implement the PeKa B40 Outreach Programme among the Orang Asli community in 2021,” he added.

He was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Isa Ab Hamid who wanted to know the number of Orang Asli beneficiaries under the PeKa B40 scheme and the benefits they received since it was introduced.

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The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities will continue supporting forest replanting efforts to supply raw materials for the country's timber industry.

Deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister II Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng said this includes the implementation of the Forest Plantation Development Programme (PPLH) through Forest Plantation Development Sdn Bhd, a company wholly owned by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.

"PPLH has been implemented since 2007 throughout Malaysia to provide sufficient raw materials for the timber industry. This programme provides soft loans to private companies, cooperatives and qualified government agencies, '' he said in reply to Senator Susan Chemerai Anding who wanted to know the type of forest trees introduced by the ministry under the forest replanting programme in Sarawak in the Dewan Negara today.

-- BERNAMA