Dewan Rakyat news in brief: July 26

FOUR STATES KEEN TO IMPLEMENT NR-REE

KUALA LUMPUR -- Kedah, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu have shown interest to implement non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE), the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

 Energy and Natural Resources Minister Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the states were asked to wait for the pilot project at Mukim Kenering in Hulu Perak district implemented first.

“If the standard operating procedure (SOP) developed for the Perak NR-REE is able to regulate the mining activities, then the ministry will extend it to other states,” he said during the question and answer session.

 He said this in his reply to a question by Nor Azrina Surip (PH-Merbok), who wanted to know the extent of the ministry’s efforts in exploring REE mining from the aspects of regulatory legislation and operational sustainability between enforcement agencies, industry players and third parties in ensuring sustainability.

-- BERNAMA

GOVT PLANS TO LIFT BAN ON CHICKEN EXPORT SOON 

KUALA LUMPUR -- The government plans to lift the ban on chicken exports soon, according to the Deputy Minister II of the Agricultural and Food Industries Datuk Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh.

“There is no date yet, but it (the decision to re-authorise exports) will not be long. InsyaAllah,” he said in response to a supplementary question from Sim Tze Tzin (PH-Bayan Baru) on the time the government will take to withdraw the export ban of 3.6 million chickens per month since its implementation on June 1.

-- BERNAMA

OVER 400,000 VACANCIES AS OF JUNE 24 

KUALA LUMPUR -- A total of 462,994 vacancies were reported for all sectors and industries as of June 24, according to the statistics issued by the Employment Insurance Scheme of the Social Security Organisation (Socso).

In a written answer posted on the Parliament website today, the Human Resources Ministry said that the government still adheres to existing policies to give priority to the employment of local workers in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign employment.

 The ministry was replying to a question from Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (PBM-Tebrau) who wanted to know the number of job vacancies in all sectors and industries as of June 30.

-- BERNAMA

3,407 CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE 2018

KUALA LUMPUR -- The National Registration Department (NRD) received 3,407 applications for citizenship between 2018 and June 2022, under Article 15(2) of the Federal Constitution. 

In a written reply posted on the Parliament website, the Home Ministry said that of the total, 19 applications were approved and seven others were rejected in the last five years.

-- BERNAMA