Dewan Negara news in brief: Aug 15

 19 DEATHS IN CUSTODY RECORDED UNTIL LAST JULY

KUALA LUMPUR --The Dewan Negara was told today that 19 deaths in police custody were recorded from Jan 1 to July 31 this year.

Deputy Home Minister II Jonathan Yasin said three cases were due to COVID-19 infection, another three due to heart disease, two died of tuberculosis and four deaths involved other diseases such as fluid in the lungs.

"Two detainees hanged themselves to death while five cases are pending laboratory analysis," he said in reply to a question from Senator Datuk Dr Nuing Jeluing who wanted to know the causes of custody death still happening today.

-- BERNAMA

SKUDAI ARMY CAMP PROJECT TEMPORARILY FROZEN

KUALA LUMPUR -- The construction of the army camp in Taman Sri Skudai, Johor has been temporarily frozen in consideration of the decision made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court dated Dec 21, 2018.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz said the court had decided that Syarikat Kausar Consortium Sdn Bhd (KCSB), the contractor responsible for the project, should pay damages worth RM 269.5 million to the government.

"This is because of their failure to complete the project according to the schedule, by June 10, 2001, even though the company was given an extension until Jan 10, 2003," he said in reply to Senator Datuk Teo Eng Tee on the latest development on the project.

-- BERNAMA

MOT YET TO DECIDE ON VOCATIONAL LICENCE FOR P-HAILING RIDERS

KUALA LUMPUR -- The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has not decided on the special vocational licence which p-hailing riders are required to obtain, said Deputy Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong.

“The ministry is the midst of engagement sessions with stakeholders regarding matters related to the sector,” he said during answer and question session in the Dewan Negara today.

He was replying to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk Lim Pay Hen who enquired on the mode of acquiring the new vocational licence that has been agreed by the MoT to ensure that p-hailing riders would not be burdened.

-- BERNAMA